Functional status among community‐dwelling older adults is determined by cognitive status

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundSince 2008, the number of older adults has increased by 34% and is expected to nearly double by 2060. Among US older adults over 70 years of age, 22‐30% report difficulty performing at least one activity of daily living (ADL). ADL performance is associated with functional fitness parameters. Negative longitudinal changes in functional performance among older adults are associated with cognitive decline and may be able to predict future cognitive impairment. Thus, it is imperative to understand the influence of cognition on functional fitness among older adults.Method84 older adults (80.9+5.4 years) consented to have their functional fitness and cognition assessed. Functional fitness parameters included the following assessments: Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), 10‐meter walk (habitual and fast), dual‐task (habitual and fast), power chair stand assessment (average and peak power and velocity). Cognition was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a digital Visual Paired Comparison (VPC) task. Categories of low and high cognitive function were determined using the VPC results. A one‐way ANOVA was conducted to determine differences between cognitive groups.ResultParticipants with high cognitive performance scored significantly better on the SPPB, 10‐meter fast walk, dual‐task fast condition, and average velocity during the power chair stand assessment. SPPB scores were 10.2% lower among older adults with low cognitive performance (p = .04). The high cognition group walked 16.5% (0.16 m/s) faster when compared to the low cognitive group (p = .04). Dual‐task (fast) performance was 13.2% slower among the low cognition group (p = .03). Additionally, low cognitive older adults moved 16.7% slower when rising from a seated position during the power chair stand task (p = .01). MoCA was 2.76 points lower among the low cognition group (p < .001).ConclusionBased on the current results, a relationship exists between functional fitness and cognitive performance in older adults. However, it remains unknown whether functional fitness can influence cognition or vice versa and how these impact ADL performance. Future research is warranted to determine if and how the relationship between cognitive function and functional fitness changes over time in older adults.