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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Sarcopenia | Research article

Associations of sarcopenia and its defining components with cognitive function in community-dwelling oldest old

Authors: Anying Bai, Weihao Xu, Jing Sun, Juan Liu, Xinli Deng, Linna Wu, Xiao Zou, Jing Zuo, Lin Zou, Yunxia Liu, Hengge Xie, Xiaohong Zhang, Li Fan, Yixin Hu

Published in: BMC Geriatrics | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

This study aimed to investigate the associations of sarcopenia and its defining components with cognitive function in community-dwelling oldest old (over 80 years old) in China.

Methods

Sarcopenia was diagnosed by the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. Cognitive function was evaluated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Logistic and linear regression models were used to explore the associations of sarcopenia and its defining components with risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and performance on multiple cognitive domains among 428 adults aged 80 years and older.

Results

The overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 35.5%, with 40.34% for men and 32.14% for women. The prevalence of MCI was higher among sarcopenic oldest old than non-sarcopenic oldest old (28.95% vs. 17.39%, p = 0.005). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that sarcopenia [odds ratio (OR) = 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–3.33], low handgrip strength (HS) [OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.40–3.87] and slow gait speed (GS) [OR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.13–4.72] were significantly and independently associated with risk of MCI. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that low HS was associated with worse performance in global cognitive function, visuospatial and executive function, naming and delayed recall.

Conclusions

Sarcopenia, low HS and low GS was significantly associated with MCI in community-dwelling oldest old. The associations between sarcopenia and its defining components with different cognitive subdomains could be further explored in the future.

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Title: Associations of sarcopenia and its defining components with cognitive function in community-dwelling oldest old
Authors: Anying Bai
Weihao Xu
Jing Sun
Juan Liu
Xinli Deng
Linna Wu
Xiao Zou
Jing Zuo
Lin Zou
Yunxia Liu
Hengge Xie
Xiaohong Zhang
Li Fan
Yixin Hu
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Sarcopenia
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published in: BMC Geriatrics / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2318
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02190-1

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