Frailty In Community-dwelling Older Adults Research Articles

Vitamin K insufficiency predicts incidence of frailty in community-dwelling older adults: The Otassha Study.

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin discovered as an essential factor for blood coagulation. It is suggested that vitamin K can benefit several aging-related diseases, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and dementia. We previously reported the cross-sectional association of vitamin K insufficiency with frailty in community-dwelling older adults. In October 2020, a health examination of community-dwelling older adults (The Otassha Study) was performed, including frailty evaluation and blood tests. We used a ucOC and OC ratio (ucOC/OC) to indicate vitamin K insufficiency. One year later, we conducted a follow-up evaluation of frailty on 518 people who were not frail at baseline. The serum ucOC/OC at the baseline examination was divided into quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4). Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using multivariate binary logistic regression for each quartile of ucOC/OC to determine the risk of incident frailty in the follow-up study, with the lowest quartile (Q1) as the reference. Among the 518 older adults who were not frail at baseline, 66 people (12.7%) became frail in the follow-up study. In the multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, setting the lowest quartile of ucOC/OC (Q1) as a reference, the OR of the incident frailty in the highest quartile (Q4) was 2.53 (95% CI 1.07, 4.92) which was significantly different from Q1. The findings of this longitudinal study suggest that vitamin K insufficiency has nutritional importance in predicting the future incidence of frailty in the Japanese older adult population.

Phase angle is associated with frailty in community-dwelling older adults

ObjectivesFrailty is a geriatric syndrome associated with adverse outcomes. Malnutrition and sarcopenia are conditions intertwined with frailty. Phase angle (PhA), used to evaluate nutritional status and sarcopenia, shows the cell membrane integrity and is closely related to clinical outcomes and mortality in many chronic conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between PhA and frailty in community-dwelling older adults. MethodsThe study included 299 older adults admitted to a geriatric outpatient clinic. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed on all participants. Frailty was evaluated via the Clinical Frailty Scale, ≥4 levels were accepted as living with frailty. All participants underwent bioelectrical impedance analysis, and PhA was recorded for each participant. ResultsThe prevalence of frailty among the participants was 53%. The median PhA was lower in patients living with frailty than in those who were robust (5.10 [4.55–7.80] and 5.90 [3.90–6.90] degrees, respectively, and P = 0.014). Multivariable regression analysis showed that PhA was also associated with frailty in both sexes (odds ratio [OR], 0.920; P = 0.034 for men; OR, 0.81; P = 0.005 for women, respectively) independent of age, handgrip strength, nutritional status, body mass index, living alone, and burden of morbidities. ConclusionPhA calculated with bioelectrical impedance analysis was significantly associated with frailty. Further research with large samples is needed to determine whether PhA demonstrates potential utility as a biomarker for frailty.

Modifiable risk factors of cognitive frailty in community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To perform a meta-analysis identifying the modifiable risk factors of cognitive frailty in the elderly. We systematically searched databases including PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform from January 01, 2017 to March 26, 2022. Quantitative, original research reporting associated factors were included. 7,854 records in total were identified, of which 14 articles (1 prospective, 13 cross-sectional) with 36 factors were included. Studies on cognitive frailty included 20,390 community-dwellers (≥60 years) from three countries. Meta-analysis indicated that depression [OR=3.60, 95%CI (2.25,5.78), p < 0.01] and sleep problems [OR=2.36, 95%CI (1.62,3.43), p < 0.01] were associated with cognitive frailty. Effective interventions targeting depression and sleep problems may lower the risk of cognitive frailty in the community seniors but need further study in high-quality, prospective studies. Building on previous work, the objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to explore potential modifiable risk factors for cognitive frailty in community-dwelling older adults, which is expected to throw light on the prevention of cognitive frailty.

Palliative Care Needs of Physically Frail Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Heart Failure.

Physical frailty is emerging as a potential "trigger" for palliative care (PC) consultation, but the PC needs of physically frail persons with heart failure (HF) in the outpatient setting have not been well described. This study describes the PC needs of community dwelling, physically frail persons with HF. We included persons with HF ≥50 years old who experienced ≥1 hospitalization in the prior year and excluded those with moderate/severe cognitive impairment, hospice patients, or non-English speaking persons. Measures included the FRAIL scale (0-5: 0=robust, 1-2=prefrail, 3-5=frail) and the Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale (IPOS) (17 items, score 0-68; higher score=higher PC needs). Multiple linear regression tested the association between frailty group and palliative care needs. Participants (N=286) had a mean age of 68 (range 50-92) were majority male (63%) and White (68%) and averaged two hospitalizations annually. Most were physically frail (44%) or prefrail (41%). Mean PC needs (IPOS) score was 19.7 (range 0-58). On average, participants reported 5.86 (SD 4.28) PC needs affecting them moderately, severely, or overwhelmingly in the last week. Patient-perceived family/friend anxiety (58%) weakness/lack of energy (58%), and shortness of breath (47%) were the most prevalent needs. Frail participants had higher mean PC needs score (26) than prefrail (16, P < 0.001) or robust participants (11, P < 0.001). Frail participants experienced an average of 8.32 (SD 3.72) moderate/severe/overwhelming needs compared to prefrail (4.56, SD 3.77) and robust (2.39, SD 2.91) participants (P < 0.001). Frail participants reported higher prevalence of weakness/lack of energy (83%), shortness of breath (66%), and family/friend anxiety (69%) than prefrail (48%, 39%, 54%) or robust (13%, 14%, 35%) participants (P < 0.001). Physically frail people with HF have higher unmet PC needs than those who are nonfrail. Implementing PC needs and frailty assessments may help identify vulnerable patients with unmet needs requiring further assessment and follow-up.

Number of medications and polypharmacy are associated with frailty in older adults: results from the Midlife in the United States study.

The current study aimed to examine the association between the number of medications, polypharmacy, and frailty in community-dwelling older adults. In addition, the cutoff score for the number of medications related with frailty in this sample was determined. A cross-sectional analysis was performed using data of 328 individual aged between 65 and 85 years from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS 2): Biomarker Project, 2004-2009, a multisite longitudinal study, for 328 individuals aged between 65 and 85 years. All the participants were categorized into two groups based on the number of medications used: no polypharmacy (n = 206) and polypharmacy (n = 122). The polypharmacy was defined as having 5 or more medication per day. Frailty status was measured using a modified form of Fried frailty phenotype through the presences of the following indicators include low physical activity; exhaustion; weight loss; slow gait speed and muscle weakness. Participants were categorized into three different groups based on total score: 0 as robust, 1 to 2 as prefrail, 3 or more as frail. The relationship between no. of medications, polypharmacy, and frailty was examined using a multinomial logistic regression model. The model was adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and no. of chronic conditions. Receiver operator characteristics and area under the curve were used to determine the cutoff number of medications. Number of medications, and polypharmacy were associated with being frail (relative risk ratio [RRR]: 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.12, 1.50], p = 0.001), (RRR: 4.77; 95% CI [1.69, 13.4], p = 0.003), respectively. Number of medications with cutoff 6 medication or more was associated with being in frail category with sensitivity of 62% and specificity of 73%. Polypharmacy was shown to be significantly related to frailty. A cutoff score of 6 or more medications distinguished frail from non-frail. Addressing polypharmacy in the older population might ameliorate the impact of physical frailty.

Impact of the Comprehensive Awareness Modification of Mouth, Chewing and Meal (CAMCAM) Program on the Attitude and Behavior Towards Oral Health and Eating Habits as Well as the Condition of Oral Frailty: A Pilot Study.

Preserving sufficient oral function and maintaining aadequate nutrition are essential for preventing physical frailty and the following long-term care. We recently developed the 6-month Comprehensive Awareness Modification of Mouth, Chewing And Meal (CAMCAM) program, in which participants gather monthly to learn about oral health and nutrition while eating a textured lunch together. This study examined whether the CAMCAM program could improve attitude and behavior towards oral health, mastication, and diet as well as ameliorate oral frailty in community-dwelling older adults. Single-arm pre-post comparison study. A total of 271 community-dwelling adults (72.3 ± 5.7 years of age; 159 women [58.7%]) in 4 Japanese municipalities were recruited, of which 249 participants (92%) were assessed at the final evaluation. Participants gathered once a month at community centers to learn about oral health and nutrition while eating a "munchy" textured lunch containing proper nutrition. Oral frailty, frailty, and eating behavior were evaluated with the Oral Frailty Index-8 (OFI-8), Kihon checklist (KCL), and CAMCAM checklist, respectively. Participants were divided into Oral frailty (OF) and Robust groups according to OFI-8 scores. The differences in KCL and CAMCAM checklist results between the OF and Robust groups were statistically tested along with changes in scores after the program. KCL and CAMCAM checklist scores were significantly lower in the OF group at the initial assessment. OFI-8 and KCL findings were significantly improved in the OF group after completing the program (all P <0.05). Regarding the CAMCAM checklist, awareness of chewing improved significantly in the Robust group (P=0.009), with a similar tendency in the OF group (P=0.080). The findings of this pilot study suggest that the CAMCAM program may improve both oral and systemic frailty in addition to attitudes towards chewing, oral health, and meals, especially in individuals with oral frailty. The CAMCAM program merits expansion as a community-based frailty prevention program.

Criterion validity of the health assessment questionnaire for the national screening program for older adults in Japan: The SONIC study.

In our previous study, we proposed that the total score of the 12 frailty-related items in the health assessment questionnaire for the national screening program for older adults could be used as an indicator of frailty. We aim to examine the criterion validity of the 12 frailty-related items for frailty. The data used in this study were from older Japanese individuals aged 78-81 years (n = 461) who participated in the in-venue (2019) and mailed questionnaire (2020) surveys of the Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians study. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the criterion validity of the 12 frailty-related items for frailty defined based on the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to examine the independent association of the 12 frailty-related items with frailty. The area under the ROC curve of the scores of the 12 frailty-related items for frailty was 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.73-0.85, P < 0.001). The cut-off value for frailty was 3 and 4 points, and the sensitivity and specificity were 55.9% and 85.8%, respectively. The multivariable logistic regression model showed that four or more scores of the 12 frailty-related items were significantly associated with frailty (adjusted odds ratio = 7.75, 95% CI = 4.10-14.65, P < 0.001). The results of this study suggest that the 12 frailty-related items in the health assessment questionnaire for older adults may be useful for assessing frailty in community-dwelling older adults in a simplified manner. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 437-443.

Association between community-level health literacy and frailty in community-dwelling older adults.

We aimed to investigate whether high community-level health literacy, beyond individual-level health literacy, is associated with a low prevalence of frailty among community-dwelling older adults. A large cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among citizens in Maizuru City, Kyoto, Japan, aged 65years or older who were not certified as "support" or "care" level according to Japan's public long-term care insurance system, who could perform basic activities of daily living, and who did not have dementia or Parkinson's disease. Frailty status was assessed using the Kihon Checklist, with a score ≥ 8 indicating frailty. Health literacy was assessed using the Communicative and Critical Health Literacy Scale. The mean health literacy score of 20 school districts was used as the community-level health literacy index. We investigated demographic data and other potential confounding factors, including education, living arrangement, body mass index, comorbidity, smoking status, depressive symptoms, social networks, and community-level covariates. The primary analysis included 6230 individuals (mean age = 74.3years [SD = 6.1]). In each school district, the prevalence of frailty was 21.2-34.2% (mean: 26.2%), and community-level health literacy index was 3.1-3.5 (mean: 3.4). Multilevel logistic regression model including school district as random effect showed that the community-level health literacy was significantly associated with frailty (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 0.28 [0.08 to 0.96]) after adjusting for the covariates. Not only high individual-level health literacy but also high community-level health literacy is associated with a low prevalence of frailty in community-dwelling older adults.

Two-year longitudinal associations between nutritional status and frailty in community-dwelling older adults: Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study

BackgroundKorea is expected to become a super-aged society in 2026, and improving nutritional status, which is directly related to health problems, is therefore important for increasing healthy life expectancy. Frailty is the most complex phenotype of aging, and leads to adverse health outcomes, disability, poor quality of life, hospitalization, and mortality. Malnutrition is a major risk factor for frailty syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of pre-frailty or frailty in the second wave (T2, 2018–2019) according to general characteristics and nutritional status in the first wave (T1, 2016–2017); and examine the longitudinal association of nutritional status in T1 and the incidence of pre-frailty or frailty in T2 among older adults living in a community.MethodsA secondary data analysis was performed using the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS). Participants comprised 1125 community-dwelling older Korean adults aged 70–84 years (mean age: 75.03 ± 3.56 years; 53.8% males). Frailty was assessed using the Fried frailty index, and nutritional status was assessed using the Korean version of the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form and blood nutritional biomarkers. Binary logistic regression was used to identify longitudinal associations between the nutritional status at T1 and pre-frailty or frailty at T2.ResultsOver the two-year follow-up period, 32.9% and 1.7% of the participants became pre-frail and frail, respectively. After the potential confounders were adjusted (sociodemographic, health behaviors, and health status characteristics), pre-frailty or frailty had a significant longitudinal association with severe anorexia (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–16.54), moderate anorexia (AOR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.46–3.64), psychological stress or acute disease (AOR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.26–5.39), and body mass index (BMI) less than 19 (AOR, 4.11; 95% CI, 1.20–14.04).ConclusionsAnorexia, psychological stress, acute disease, and low BMI are the most significant longitudinal risk factors for pre-frailty or frailty in older adults. As nutritional risk factors may be preventable or modifiable, it is important to develop interventions targeting the same. Community-based health professionals in health-related fields should recognize and manage these indicators appropriately to prevent frailty among older adults living in the community.

Incremental Health Care Costs of Self-Reported Functional Impairments and Phenotypic Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults : A Prospective Cohort Study.

Health care systems need better strategies to identify older adults at risk for costly care to select target populations for interventions to reduce health care burden. To determine whether self-reported functional impairments and phenotypic frailty are associated with incremental health care costs after accounting for claims-based predictors. Prospective cohort study. Index examinations (2002 to 2011) of 4 prospective cohort studies linked with Medicare claims. 8165 community-dwelling fee-for-service beneficiaries (4318 women, 3847 men). Weighted (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Category index) and unweighted (count of conditions) multimorbidity and frailty indicators derived from claims. Self-reported functional impairments (difficulty performing 4 activities of daily living) and frailty phenotype (operationalized using 5 components) derived from cohort data. Health care costs ascertained for 36 months after index examinations. Average annualized costs (2020 U.S. dollars) were $13906 among women and $14598 among men. After accounting for claims-based indicators, average incremental costs of functional impairments versus no impairment in women (men) were $3328 ($2354) for 1 impairment increasing to $7330 ($11760) for 4 impairments; average incremental costs of phenotypic frailty versus robust in women (men) were $8532 ($6172). Mean predicted costs adjusted for claims-based indicators in women (men) varied by both functional impairments and the frailty phenotype ranging from $8124 ($11831) among robust persons without impairments to $18792 ($24713) among frail persons with 4 impairments. Compared with the model with claims-derived indicators alone, this model resulted in more accurate cost prediction for persons with multiple impairments or phenotypic frailty. Cost data limited to participants enrolled in the Medicare fee-for-service program. Self-reported functional impairments and phenotypic frailty are associated with higher subsequent health care expenditures in community-dwelling beneficiaries after accounting for several claims-based indicators of costs. National Institutes of Health.

Activity diversity is associated with the prevention of frailty in community-dwelling older adults: The Otassha Study.

A prior study showed an association between diversity in daily activities (type, frequency, evenness) and frailty in older adults. However, the causality of this relationship is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the relationship between activity diversity and frailty through a 2-year longitudinal study conducted among community-dwelling older adults. We evaluated data from the 2018 and 2020 waves of the Otassha Study. Frailty was assessed using the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria, with pre-frail and frail participants defined as frail and the other participants categorized into the robust group. We enrolled a total of 207 participants who were not frail at baseline. Activity type, frequency, and evenness scores were calculated using an Activity Diversity Questionnaire. The association between each activity diversity score and the incidence of frailty was evaluated using logistic regression modeling (each diversity score was entered the model after Z-transformation). Of the 207 enrolled participants (median age, 73 years; age range, 65-91 years; 60.4% women), 64 (30.9%) had incident frailty during the follow-up period. A logistic regression analysis adjusting for sociodemographic and psychosomatic factors revealed odds ratios for activity type and evenness scores of 0.64 and 0.61, respectively (P < 0.05). These factors were significantly associated with the incidence of frailty. Activity type and evenness (except frequency) within daily activities were predictors of frailty during 2 years of follow-up. Engagement in diverse activities appears to be more effective in preventing frailty than does engagement in a few activities.

Prevalence of frailty and its association with oral hypofunction in older adults: a gender perspective

BackgroundPrevious studies have indicated an association between oral hypofunction and frailty in community-dwelling older adults. However, this issue has not been evaluated in institutionalized older patients. We aimed to determine the prevalence of physical frailty in this particularly vulnerable group and evaluate its association with oral hypofunction, analyzing possible differences by gender.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in private and public care homes in Guayaquil (Ecuador) from January 2018 until December 2019. Participants were classified as robust, pre-frail, and frail according to the Fried's frailty phenotype. Oral hypofunction was defined as the presence of at least three positive items in the following list: poor oral hygiene, oral dryness, reduced occlusal force, decreased masticatory function, and deterioration of swallowing function. The relationships between frailty and oral hypofunction were analyzed using logistic regression models for the whole sample and stratified by gender. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA 15.0 software (Stata Corp. LP, College Station, TX, USA).ResultsAmong the 589 participants analyzed (65% women), the median age was 72 years (interquartile range: 66–82). Pre-frailty and frailty were presented in 66.7% and 28.9% of them respectively. Weakness was the most frequent item (84.6%). There was a significant relationship between frailty and oral hypofunction in women. In the overall sample, the frequency of frailty was 2.06 times higher (95% CI 1.30–3.29) in patients with oral hypofunction, and this association was maintained in women (ORa: 2.18; 95% CI 1.21–3.94). Reduced occlusal force and decreased swallowing function were items significantly associated with the presence of frailty (ORa: 1.95; 95% CI 1.18–3.22 and ORa: 2.11; 95% CI 1.39–3.19, respectively).ConclusionThe prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty was high among institutionalized older people and was associated with the presence of hypofunction, especially in women. Decreased swallowing function was the most strongly item associated with frailty.

Muscle power predicts frailty status over four years: A retrospective cohort study of the National Health and Aging Trends Study.

Muscle power is a critical measure of physical capacity in older adults, however the association between muscle power and frailty is not well explored. The purpose of this study is to estimate the association between muscle power and frailty in community-dwelling older adults in the National Health and Aging Trends Study from 2011-2015. Cross-sectional and prospective analyses were performed on 4,803 community-dwelling older adults. Mean muscle power was calculated using the five-time sit-to-stand test, height, weight, and chair height and dichotomized into high-watt and low-watt groups. Frailty was defined using the five Fried criteria. The low watt-group had higher odds of pre-frailty and frailty at baseline year 2011. In prospective analyses, the low-watt group that was pre-frail at baseline had increased hazards of frailty (AHR 1.62, 95% CI 1.31, 1.99) and decreased hazards of non-frailty (AHR 0.71, 95% CI 0.59, 0.86). The low-watt group that was non-frail at baseline had increased hazards of pre-frailty (1.24, 95% CI 1.04, 1.47) and frailty (1.70, 1.07, 2.70). Lower muscle power is associated with higher odds of pre-frailty and frailty and increased hazards of becoming frail or pre-frail over four years in those who are pre-frail or non-frail at baseline.

Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) of the Short Functional Geriatric Evaluation (SFGE) to Assess the Multidimensionality of Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

The Short Functional Geriatric Evaluation (SFGE) is a multidimensional and short questionnaire to assess biopsychosocial frailty in older adults. This paper aims to clarify the latent factors of SFGE. Data were collected from January 2016 to December 2020 from 8800 community-dwelling older adults participating in the "Long Live the Elderly!" program. Social operators administered the questionnaire through phone calls. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was carried out to identify the quality of the structure of the SFGE. Principal component analysis was also performed. According to the SFGE score, 37.7% of our sample comprised robust, 24.0% prefrail, 29.3% frail, and 9.0% very frail individuals. Using the EFA, we identified three main factors: psychophysical frailty, the need for social and economic support, and the lack of social relationships. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was 0.792, and Bartlett's test of sphericity had a statistically significant result (p-value < 0.001). The three constructs that emerged explain the multidimensionality of biopsychosocial frailty. The SFGE score, 40% of which is social questions, underlines the crucial relevance of the social domain in determining the risk of adverse health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults.

Research Progress on Frailty in Elderly People with Osteoporosis in the Community

As the population ages, the incidence of frailty in community-dwelling older adults with osteoporosis increases. This article reviews the content, advantages and disadvantages of frailty assessment tools, and influencing factors for frail older with osteoporosis in community, with the aim to provide a reference for early identification of frailty in older adults in the community and intervention methods.

Frailty and its associates in community-dwelling older adults.

While the literature contains several studies on the frailty assessed during hospitalization and/or outpatient settings and nursing homes, few studies have assessed frailty in community-dwelling older adults. We investigated the prevalence of frailty and associated factors among older adults in a sample of community-dwelling older adults. We included community-dwelling older adults >60 years living in the Fatih District of the Istanbul Province. We conducted the study between November 2014 and May 2015. We collected the data such as age, sex, number of diseases and drugs, functional status, frailty, the presence of geriatric syndromes, common diseases, and quality-of-life assessment. Frailty was evaluated by the FRAIL scale. A total of 204 adults (mean age: 75.4±7.3 years) were included, of whom 30.4% were robust, 42.6% were pre-frail, and 27% were frail. In multivariate analyses, associated factors of frailty were the number of drugs [odds ratio (OR)=1.240, p=0.036], the presence of cognitive impairment (OR=0.300, p=0.016), and falls (OR=1.984, p=0.048). The present study established the prevalence of frailty in a large district in the largest metropolis in the country through a valid screening method. Our results suggest that clinicians should consider frailty evaluation in patients with multiple drug usage, cognitive impairment, and falls.

Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity, Fatigue, and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to describe the level of physical activity and its relation to fatigue and frailty during the COVID-19 pandemic in community-dwelling older adults aged 80years and over. Three hundred and ninety-one older adults (aged 86.5 ± 3.00) completed a survey including physical activity, the Mobility Tiredness scale, and the FRAIL scale. Linear regression analysis was conducted to assess whether the variables age, sex, and physical activity (independent factors) were significantly related to fatigue and frailty. Respectively, 30.5% and 24.7% of the participants reported a decrease in walking and in energy-intensive activities; 25.4% reported increased sedentary behavior. A lower level of physical activity was associated with higher levels of fatigue and increased frailty risk (p < .05), independently from psychological symptoms. These results are important because participants with lower levels of physical activity and more sedentary behavior are more likely to feel fatigued and have higher risk to be frail.

Baduanjin exercise modulates the hippocampal subregion structure in community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty.

Regular Baduanjin exercise intervention was proven to be beneficial in improving the cognitive ability and physical performance of older adults with different health conditions but was unclear to influence the structural plasticity of the hippocampus. This study aimed to explore the modulation of hippocampal subregions as a mechanism by which Baduanjin exercise improves cognitive frailty in older adults. A total of 102 community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty were recruited and randomly allocated to the Baduanjin exercise training group and usual physical activity control group. The participants in the Baduanjin exercise training group participated in a 24-week Baduanjin exercise intervention program with an exercise frequency of 60 min per day, 3 days per week. Cognitive ability and physical frailty were assessed, and MRI scans were performed on all participants at baseline and after 24 weeks of intervention. The structural MRI data were processed with MRIConvert (version 2.0 Rev. 235) and FreeSurfer (version 6.0.0) software. Data analyses were performed using the independent sample t tests/Mann-Whitney U tests with the Bonferroni correction, mixed linear model, correlation, or mediation analysis by the SPSS 24.0 software (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, United States). After 24 weeks of intervention, a statistically significant increase was found for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores (p = 0.002) with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 0.94) and the significant interaction effect (P goup × time < 0.05), Memory Quotient (MQ) scores (p = 0.019) with a medium effect size (Cohen's d = 0.688) and the significant interaction effect (P goup × time < 0.05), and other parameters of WMS-RC test including pictures (p = 0.042), recognition (p = 0.017), and association (p = 0.045) test with a medium effect size (Cohens' d = 0.592, 0.703, and 0.581) for the Baduanjin training group, while significant decrease for the Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS) score (p = 0.022), with a medium effect size (Cohen's d = -0.659) and the significant interaction effect (P goup × time < 0.05) for the Baduanjin training group. The differences in the left parasubiculum, Hippocampal Amygdala Transition Area (HATA), right Cornu Ammonis Subfield 1 (CA1) and presubiculum volumes from baseline to 24 weeks after intervention in the Baduanjin training group were significantly greater than those in the control group (p < 0.05/12). Further analysis showed that the changes in right CA1 volume were positively correlated with the changes in MoCA and MQ scores (r = 0.510, p = 0.015; r = 0.484, p = 0.022;), the changes in right presubiculum and left parasubiculum volumes were positively correlated with the changes in MQ (r = 0.435, p = 0.043) and picture test scores (r = 0.509, p = 0.016), respectively, and the changes in left parasubiculum and HATA volumes were negatively correlated with the changes in EFS scores (r = -0.534, p = 0.011; r = -0.575, p = 0.005) in the Baduanjin training group, even after adjusting for age, sex, years of education and marital status; furthermore, the volume changes in left parasubiculum and left HATA significantly mediated the Baduanjin exercise training-induced decrease in the EFS scores (β = 0.376, 95% CI 0.024 ~ 0.947; β = 0.484, 95% CI 0.091 ~ 0.995); the changes of left parasubiculum and right CA1 significantly mediated the Baduanjin exercise training-induced increase in the picture and MO scores (β = -0.83, 95% CI-1.95 ~ -0.002; β = -2.44, 95% CI-5.99 ~ -0.32). A 24-week Baduanjin exercise intervention effectively improved cognitive ability and reduced physical frailty in community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty, and the mechanism might be associated with modulating the structural plasticity of the hippocampal subregion.

Associations of vision impairment and eye diseases with frailty in community-dwelling older adults: a nationwide longitudinal study in China

AimsTo test whether vision impairment and major ophthalmic conditions are predictive of frailty.MethodsThe analysis included 5321 participants aged 60–95 years at baseline from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study....

Effectiveness, satisfaction and meaningfulness of a 6-step detection and prevention program for frail community-dwelling older adults: a mixed-method evaluation

Background:As people age, the risk of becoming frail increases, often leading to negative outcomes and less well-being. Within the light of prevention, early detection and guidance to the right care and support is crucial. This study aimed to give an overview of the descriptive results of the D-SCOPE program and evaluate the process.Methods:The D-SCOPE program was developed as a detection and prevention program for frail community-dwelling older adults. The program creates a continuum of care and support, consisting of 6 steps: (1) Targeted case-finding using risk profiles for purposeful selection, (2) Preventive home-visit by an older volunteer, (3) Home visits by a professional, (4), Warm referral, (5) Monthly follow-up and (6) Long-term follow-up by home visit. The effectiveness of this program, in terms of satisfaction and meaningfulness, was studied quantitatively by means of a randomized controlled trial amongst 869 people with a frailty risk profile and qualitatively by 15 focus groups interviews.Results:The quantitative study revealed that 83.9% of the participants found the different home visits within the D-SCOPE program useful. The focus group interviews shed light on several issues and advantages: a more efficient case finding due to the applied risk factors for frailty, a more intensive tailor-made care and support due to the warm referral, the importance of both small-scaled and larger interventions based on the wishes irrespective of the state of frailty of the older persons, the focus on a strengths-based instead of a deficit-based approach and the follow up as being one of the greatest strengths of the project. However, to fully understand the benefits of the program a shift in mind from intervention to prevention is necessary.Conclusions:Our quantitative data show that most participants found the home visits meaningful and were satisfied with the intervention. The qualitative findings provided more insights into the experiences of the participants with the process. Based on these insights of the 6-step model of preventive home visits, municipalities and organizations can apply this model to carry out more targeted home visits.Trial registration:This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, on 30/05/2017, identifier: NCT03168204.