Greater Perceived Physical Fatigability Is Associated with Lower Cognition: The Long Life Family Study

Theresa Gmelin,Nancy Glynn,Stephanie Cosentino,Mary Wojczynski,Andrea Rosso,Robert Boudreau,Stacy Andersen,Kaare Christensen

doi:10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2831

Abstract

Greater perceived physical fatigability is associated with physical functional decline, but few studies have examined its relation with cognition. Adults ≥60 (mean±SD age 73.7±10.5, 54.7% female, 99.6% white) from the Long Life Family Study (n=2355) completed the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale (PFS, 0-50, higher=greater fatigability) and a neurocognitive examination. Generalized estimating equations were used to account for family structure. Covariates included age, sex, field center, depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression), education, and self-reported health. Each 1-point greater PFS was associated with lower: (1) global cognition (Mini-Mental Status Exam; β=-0.36,p<.0001), (2) verbal fluency (phonemic: β=-0.09,p=.029 and semantic: β=-0.14,p<.0001), (3) memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised: β=-0.06,p=.037), and (4) psychomotor speed (Digit Symbol Substitution Test: β=-0.10,p<.0001), after covariate adjustment. Greater perceived physical fatigability was significantly associated with lower memory and cognitive function in older adults, and may represent a promising new biomarker of biological aging reflecting declining brain reserve, resilience, and neurodegeneration.

Highlights

Terms of use This work is brought to you by the University of Southern Denmark
Greater Perceived Physical Fatigability Is Associated with Lower Cognition: The Long Life Family Study
We first present an overview of the neurobiology underlying fatigability and energy states

Summary

Introduction

Terms of use This work is brought to you by the University of Southern Denmark. Unless otherwise specified it has been shared according to the terms for self-archiving. Greater Perceived Physical Fatigability Is Associated with Lower Cognition: The Long Life Family Study. Using data from 1,463 older adults (51% Hispanic, 27% non-Hispanic Black, 22% non-Hispanic White) in the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project, cross-sectional mediation models quantified separate indirect effects of Black race and Hispanic ethnicity on global cognitive composite scores. Significant racial/ethnic disparities remained after accounting for the included socioeconomic and psychosocial factors, indicating that future studies should consider additional potential mediators.

Results

Conclusion