Association of Dynapenia, Sarcopenia, and Cognitive Impairment Among Community-Dwelling Older Taiwanese

Abstract

A decline in physical and/or cognitive function is a common feature of aging, and frailty has been shown to be associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. This study aimed to evaluate the association between dynapenia, sarcopenia, and cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older people in Taiwan. Data from the I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study (ILAS) were retrieved for study. Global cognitive function was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), whereas the Chinese Version Verbal Learning Test, Boston Naming Test, Verbal Fluency Test, Taylor Complex Figure Test, Digits Backward Test, and Clock Drawing Test were used to assess different domains of cognitive function. Association between sarcopenia and global cognitive function as well as all different dimensions of cognitive function were evaluated. Data from 731 elderly participants (mean age 73.4 ± 5.4 years, 53.8% males) were used for study analysis. The overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 6.8%, which was significantly higher in men (9.3% versus 4.1%, p < 0.05). The mean MMSE score was 23.4 ± 4.4 for all participants, and 10.3% of the study participants were cognitively impaired. Sarcopenia was not significantly associated with global cognitive function (odds ratio [OR] = 1.55, p = 0.317), but global cognitive impairment was significantly associated with low physical performance (OR = 2.31, p = 0.003) and low muscle strength (OR = 2.59, p = 0.011). Nonetheless, sarcopenia was significantly associated with impairment in the verbal fluency test (OR = 3.96, p = 0.006) after adjustment for potential confounders. Dynapenia was significantly associated with cognitive impairment in multiple dimensions and global cognitive function, but sarcopenia was only associated with an impaired verbal fluency test. Reduced muscle strength and/or physical performance related to non-muscle etiology were strongly associated with cognitive impairment. More longitudinal studies are needed.

Association between Physical Activity and Cognitive Dysfunction in the Korean: A Cross-sectional Study

“…The present study is the first investigation that confirmed the association of physical activity and cognitive dysfunction in the middle-aged and older Korean populations. The results of our study are consistent with previous reports showing that physical activity is associated with risk of cognitive dysfunction and mild cognitive impairment [16][17][18][19]. For example, a study on the community-dwelling older adults reported that daily physical activity was associated with cognitive function variability in the elderly [20].…”

A cross-sectional study of the association between dynapenia and higher-level functional capacity in daily living in community-dwelling older adults in Japan

“…For example, one study tracked these conditions’ association with falls in 674 community-dwelling older individuals [24], and another examined associations with cognitive functional disorders for older community-dwellers in Taiwan [25]. Yet another study investigated risk factors for mortality in 1149 older people in Brazil [16].…”

Subtypes of physical frailty: Latent class analysis and associations with clinical characteristics and outcomes

“…In our previous study, Huang et al . discovered that slowness and weakness with non-muscle etiology were strongly associated with cognitive impairment21. In addition, Wu et al .…”