Association between Active Mobility Index and sarcopenia among Japanese community‐dwelling older adults

Abstract

Background A physically active lifestyle, including physical and social activities, is needed to maintain muscle mass, strength, and physical performance. A large life space characterizes an active lifestyle, but the association between life space with physical and social activities and sarcopenia is unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between life space with physical and social activities, assessed using the Active Mobility Index (AMI), and sarcopenia in community-dwelling Japanese older adults. Methods This study used a large, cross-sectional cohort dataset from the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Study of Geriatric Syndromes (NCGG-SGS). Between 2013 and 2018, community-dwelling Japanese adults aged ≥60 years participated in the NCGG-SGS. Sarcopenia was identified by measuring muscle mass and strength based on the clinical definition. The secondary outcomes were sarcopenia indices, including lower muscle mass, lower muscle strength, and lower gait speed. AMI assessed life space with physical and social activities in each life space (distance from the respondent's home: <1, 1-10, or >10 km) during the past month by noting the frequency, primary purpose, type of transportation, interaction with others, and physical activity. The associations between quartile groups of AMI total, physical, and social scores and sarcopenia were examined using a logistic regression model. Results From all participants, 21 644 participants (age 73.5 ± 5.8 years, 54.7% female) were included in the analysis. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 4.1% (n = 894). For the AMI total score, referred to Q1 group, Q3 and Q4 groups were significantly associated with a reduced odds ratio (OR) of sarcopenia after adjusting for all covariates [adjusted OR (aOR) (95% confidence interval), Q3: 0.71 (0.57-0.89), Q4: 0.69 (0.55-0.87)]. Q3 and Q4 of the AMI physical score groups were also significantly associated with reduced OR of sarcopenia [Q3: 0.71 (0.57-0.89), Q4: 0.67 (0.54-0.84)]. For the AMI social score, only the Q4 group showed reduced OR for sarcopenia [0.79 (0.62-1.01)]. Q3 and Q4 of the AMI total score and physical score were associated with reduced OR of all sarcopenia indices (aOR 0.55-0.82, all P < 0.05), whereas Q4 of AMI social score was associated with all indices (aOR 0.85-0.81, all P < 0.05). Conclusions The extent of life space with physical activity was associated with sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults. A longitudinal study is needed to examine whether life space with physical and social activities affect the development of sarcopenia.

Effects of exercise habits in adolescence and older age on sarcopenia risk in older adults: the Bunkyo Health Study

“…Kusatsu City in Gunma Prefecture, Hatoyama Town in Saitama Prefecture, and Obu City in Aichi Prefecture). 30,31 Similar to our study, a previous study reported that older adults with exercise habits in early adulthood and older age showed a higher appendicular lean mass and handgrip strength than those who did not exercise in both periods. 32 However, this previous study evaluated exercise habits in early adulthood, before age 30, rather than in adolescence; thus, the contribution of exercise habits in adolescence towards muscle function and sarcopenia was previously unknown and, to our knowledge, was firstly shown in the present study.…”

“…In the present study, the prevalence of sarcopenia was 6.6% in men and 1.7% in women. These prevalence values were lower than the prevalence of sarcopenia (approximately 5–20%) defined by AWGS 2019, according to the findings of previous studies conducted in community‐dwelling Japanese older adults 29,30 . While these previous studies used bioimpedance analysis to measure body composition, we used DXA in our current research.…”

“…These prevalence values were lower than the prevalence of sarcopenia (approximately 5-20%) defined by AWGS 2019, according to the findings of previous studies conducted in community-dwelling Japanese older adults. 30,31 While these previous studies used bioimpedance analysis to measure body composition, we used DXA in our current research. This may be one reason for the low prevalence of sarcopenia detected in the present study, as the AWGS criteria define different cut-off values for SMI for bioimpedance and DXA.…”

“…Our cohort included only those living in Bunkyo‐Ku, Tokyo, an urban area in Japan, while other studies included various other cities and prefectures (i.e. Kusatsu City in Gunma Prefecture, Hatoyama Town in Saitama Prefecture, and Obu City in Aichi Prefecture) 29,30 …”

Social participation in the neighborhood community prevents onset of disability in community‐dwelling older adults whose life space with activities is limited: A 2‐year prospective cohort study

“…Those groups had a larger life space and were more physically active, with more frequent social interactions, than the Q1 group. They were considered to engage in other activities, including physical activity, 44 which is effective in preventing disability, regardless of their social participation in the neighborhood community. Thus, for groups with larger life spaces and activity (Q2–Q4 groups), there may be less benefit in social participation in the neighborhood community.…”