Does mild cognitive impairment accelerate age-related changes in physical function and body composition? A three-year longitudinal follow-up study

Age-related declines in physical function, body composition, and cognitive
function are interrelated. This prospective study aimed to examine the impact of
mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on age-related changes in physical function and
body composition among community-dwelling older adults. We analyzed data from
180 older adults (aged ≥70 years) who completed a longitudinal assessment of
physical function and body composition in the community. Physical function
included grip strength and time taken to walk 10 m at normal and maximum pace.
Body composition assessments calculated the body mass index (BMI) and
appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) using bioelectrical impedance analysis
at baseline and three-year follow-up assessments. MCI was defined as values
below the age- and education-adjusted reference threshold in several tests,
including memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed.
Participants were divided into the MCI and non-MCI groups based on their MCI
status at baseline. A two-way repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA),
adjusting for age and gender, was used to analyze the group (MCI and non-MCI) by
time (baseline and three-year follow-up) interaction. Thirty participants
(16.7%) had MCI at baseline. The repeated-measures ANCOVA indicated that no
variables had significant group by time interactions. Stratified analyses by
gender (repeated-measures ANCOVA, adjusted for age) confirmed a significant
group by time interaction on BMI (F=5.63, p=0.02) and ASMI (F=6.33, p=0.01)
among women. Older women with MCI may experience a greater impact of the
acceleration of shrinking and age-related decline in muscle mass. The close
associations of MCI with shrinking and muscle mass loss have important
implications for targeting interventions among MCI women.

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.68605
PMCID: PMC11452312
PMID: 39371775

Conflict of interest statement: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived
by all participants in this study. Ethics Committee on Epidemiological and Its
Related Studies of Kagoshima University, Sakuragaoka Campus issued approval
170351. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not
involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the
ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following:
Payment/services info: This work was supported by the Japan Society for the
Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) Grant
Number 19H03978. The sponsor’s source had no role in the study design, data
collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or report writing. Financial
relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial
relationships at present or within the previous three years with any
organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other
relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships
or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.