Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool Research Articles

Association between dietary diversity and cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults.

The present study aimed to examine whether dietary diversity is associated with cognitive impairment, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI), in community-dwelling older Japanese adults. This cross-sectional study was carried out in a general community setting. MCI and global cognitive impairment (GCI) were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination and National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool, which are multicomponent neurocognitive tests that include memory attention, executive function and processing speed. Dietary diversity was assessed using the diet variety score. The diet variety score assessed the 1-week consumption frequency of 10 food groups, and either 0 or 1 point was allocated to each category based on the following responses: (i) "eat almost every day" (1 point); and (ii) "not eaten almost daily" (0 points). Older adults with a diet variety score of ≥3 points were defined as having high dietary diversity. Data included 8987 older adults (mean age 73.9 ± 5.5 years; men 44.3%). The overall prevalences of MCI and GCI were 17.1% (n = 1538) and 8.4% (n = 753), respectively. The proportion of patients with a high dietary diversity was 69.9% (n = 6286). Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed high dietary diversity was associated with MCI (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73-0.94) and GCI (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.65-0.92) after adjusting for covariates. This study had a large sample size of older Japanese adults, and showed that high dietary diversity was associated with a lower proportion of MCI and GCI among older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 75-81.

Associations of fall history and fear of falling with multidimensional cognitive function in independent community-dwelling older adults: findings from ORANGE study.

Falls and fear of falling (FoF) inhibit healthy longevity and have been suggested to be associated with cognitive function. However, the domains of cognitive function that are associated with them remain controversial. It is speculated that clarifying this will help in the assessment of health status and interventions in the community. To analyse the associations between fall history and FoF and multidimensional cognitive function in independent community-dwelling older adults. The data from 9759 (73.3 ± 5.4years, 59.9% women) older individuals enrolled in the cross-sectional ORANGE study were analysed. Simple questions were used to assess fall history in the past year and current FoF. Assessments of multidimensional cognitive function were performed using the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool (NCGG-FAT) to evaluate memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed. The independent associations of fall history and FoF with multidimensional cognitive function were assessed using multivariate linear regressions adjusted for potential confounding variables. A total of 18.3% and 35.4% of participants presented with fall history and FoF, respectively. Fall history (p = 0.008) and FoF (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with memory. FoF, but not fall history was associated with attention (p = 0.004), executive function (p < 0.01), and processing speed (p < 0.01). In independent community-dwelling older adults, fall history was associated only with the memory domain; in contrast, fear of falling was associated with multidimensional cognitive function. This study provides weak evidence suggesting the need to assess falls and FoF in all situations involving independent community-dwelling older adults.

Association between on-road driving performance test and usual walking speed or sustainable attention in the elderly; Preliminary survey

Objective An increase in older drivers has been widely recognized in Japan; accordingly, screening to prevent traffic accidents is a crucial issue for safe driving. As a preliminary study, we examined the association between on-road driving performance and cognition or physical performance in older individuals. Methods The survey was conducted in 2020, and the participants were recruited in Katagami City, Akita, Japan. The Road Test was used to assess on-road driving performance. The physical assessment comprised the usual walking speed (UWS) and grip strength (GS), and the cognitive evaluation consisted of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Functional Assessment Tool (NCGG-FAT) and the Japanese version of Stroke Drivers’ Screening Assessment (J-SDSA). A multiple regression model was also applied to examine the association between on-road driving performance and the physical items or cognitive domains of the NCGG-FAT and the J-SDSA in older individuals. Results Twenty-one participants (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 77.0 ± 5.5 years) were included in this study. A correlation analysis showed that the on-road test score was correlated with performances on the UWS (r = 0.53, p = .002), the word list memory (WM) test (r = 0.44, p = .046), the trail-making test-A (TMT-A) (r = −0.44, p = .048), the SDSA dot cancelation (DC) test (r = −0.63, p = .002), and the SDSA squares matrix compass test (SM) (r = 0.54, p = .048). According to a stepwise linear regression, the on-road test score was associated with the UWS (β = −0.01, p = .003) and the SDSA DC (β = 4.89, p = .01), with an adjusted R 2 = 0.54. Conclusions The results of the study suggested that the UWS and sustainable attention might be potential factors influencing on-road driving performance. Our preliminary findings warrant further investigation.

Polypharmacy and Lack of Joy Are Related to Physical Frailty among Northern Japanese Community-Dwellers from the ORANGE Cohort Study

Introduction: A prevalence of frailty is gradually increasing with the progress of aging in Japan, and critical challenges regarding early diagnosis and prevention of frailty were necessary in community. Although previous studies have well documented the characteristics of physical disability, there is limited information on frail state differences among older adults in Japanese rural areas. The aim of our cross-sectional observational study was to clarify the association of frail status in northern Japanese community-dwellers aged 65 or more. Methods: 345 participants were recruited from 2018 to 2020, and after getting informed consent from each participant, assessments and outcomes were evaluated according to the ORANGE protocol. We applied the frailty index of Gerontology-the Study of Geriatric Syndromes (NCGG-SGS) to classify frailty status by collecting data of demographics and psychosocial status using the Kihon checklist (KCL) and cognitive domains used by the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool (NCGG-FAT). Results: Our subjects included 313 older adults divided into 138 robust, 163 prefrail, and 12 frail. For statistical analysis, we found that the frail group had a lower educational duration, worsened KCL items, lower cognitive functions, and a tendency toward depression compared to the other groups. Moreover, physical frailty and cognitive decline were related, and polypharmacy and a lack of joy in daily life were explanatory variables of frail status. Conclusions: We suggest that KCL is important for frail discrimination, and in order to prevent physical frailty, our community should take care of not only exercise and nutrition but also cognitive functioning and depressive tendencies. In particular, polypharmacy and the presence of fun in your life are possible to be related to frailty.

Association between self‐reported night sleep duration and cognitive function among older adults with intact global cognition

The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between self-reported night sleep duration and cognitive functions such as word memory, story memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed of older adults with normal global cognitive function. A total of 241 functionally independent older adults (mean age, 75.5 ± 6.4 years) participated in this study. No participants had a history of dementia diagnosis, and each had a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 24. Participants were evaluated for self-reported sleep duration and cognitive function using the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool (NCGG-FAT). The longest sleep duration group (≥9 h) had lower MMSE scores (p = 0.010), Z-score of word list memory II (delayed recall; p = 0.001), and Z-score of story memory II (delayed recognition; p = 0.002) than the medium sleep duration group (7-8 h). Longest and long sleep duration (8-9 h) was significantly associated with impairment of story memory II (longest sleep duration: adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13-11.37, long sleep duration: adjusted OR = 4.30, 95% CI = 1.34-13.82) with reference to medium sleep duration, but no impairment of MMSE according to multiple logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, short sleep duration (<7 h) was not associated with cognitive impairment. This study suggests that long sleep duration is associated with cognitive impairment, especially of story memory (delayed recognition) in older adults with normal global cognitive function.

Development and validation of the NCGG‐FAT Chinese version for community‐dwelling older Taiwanese

To evaluate the reliability and validity of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology functional assessment tool (NCGG-FAT) Chinese version among community-dwelling older Taiwanese. In total, 40 community-living older adults aged ≥65 years with intact global cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination ≥24) were enrolled and received a neuropsychological assessment twice using the computerized NCGG-FAT Chinese version, with an interval of 30 days to examine test-retest reliability. Conventional neurocognitive assessments were performed for all study participants within a week after the first administration of the NCGG-FAT Chinese version to determine validity. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were employed to assess test-retest reliability, and the Pearson correlation coefficient evaluated the validity. In total, 40 participants aged 69.8 ± 3.9 years with a mean education of 11.1 ± 4.2 years and MMSE of 28.5 ± 1.8 were enrolled. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed moderate-to-high validity between the conventional neurocognitive assessments and the NCGG-FAT Chinese version components (r = 0.509-0.606, P < 0.01 for all components). High reliability was also identified in the word recognition (immediate) score (ICC = 0.833, P < 0.001), Trail Making Tests part B (ICC = 0.709, P < 0.001) and Symbol Digit Substitution Task score (ICC = 0.850, P < 0.001), whereas word recall (delayed) score and Trail Making Tests part A showed moderate test-retest reliability. The NCGG-FAT Chinese version is a valid and reliable instrument to assess multiple dimensions of neurocognitive function of community-living Taiwanese, which may facilitate better community-based screening and intervention programs, particularly for international comparisons. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 1171-1176.

Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Lower Back or Knee Pain Are Associated with Cognitive and Emotional Factors.

(1) Background: The present study aimed to examine physical, cognitive and emotional factors affecting falls in community-dwelling older adults with and without pain; (2) Methods: Data from 789 older adults who participated in a community-based health survey were analyzed. Participants completed questionnaires on the presence of pain and previous falls. Muscle weakness (handgrip strength < 26.0 kg for men and < 18.0 kg for women) and low skeletal muscle mass (appendicular skeletal muscle mass index < 7.0 kg/m2 for men and < 5.7 kg/m2 for women) were determined. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and depressive symptoms were assessed using the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool and 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15), respectively; (3) Results: In participants with pain, MCI and GDS-15 were associated with previous falls after adjusting for age, sex, education and medication use. In participants without pain, muscle weakness and low skeletal muscle mass were associated with previous falls when adjusting for the above covariates; (4) Conclusions: Falls in participants with pain were associated with cognitive and emotional factors, whereas falls in those without pain were associated with physical factors. Fall prevention interventions for older adults with pain may require tailored strategies to address cognitive and emotional factors.

Engagement in Lifestyle Activities is Associated with Increased Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Cortical Thickness and Cognitive Performance in Older Adults.

The aim of this study was to examine the association between lifestyle activities, including physical, cognitive, and social activities, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) signature cortical thickness, as well as to examine the mediating role of AD signature cortical thickness in lifestyle activities and cognitive function in community-dwelling healthy older adults. Participants were 1026 older adults who met the study inclusion criteria. The physical, cognitive, and social activities of daily life were assessed using a self-reporting questionnaire. AD signature cortical thickness was determined using FreeSurfer software. Cognitive function was evaluated using the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool. Path analysis (based on structural equation modeling (SEM)) of cognitive activities indicated that the direct path from cognitive activities to cognitive function was significant (p < 0.001), as was the direct path from AD signature cortical thickness to cognitive function (p < 0.001). Physical (p < 0.05) or social activities (p < 0.05) had a direct effect on cognitive function. However, AD signature cortical thickness did not mediate the relationship between physical or social activities and cognitive function. Our findings suggest that higher levels of cognitive activities later in life have a significant and positive direct effect on cognitive function. Additionally, AD signature cortical thickness significantly mediates the relationship between cognitive activities and cognitive function.

The Effect of a Multicomponent Dual-Task Exercise on Cortical Thickness in Older Adults with Cognitive Decline: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The aim of this study was to examine cortical thickness changes associated with a multicomponent exercise intervention combining physical exercise and cognitive training in older adults with cognitive decline. This study involved a secondary analysis of neuroimaging data from a randomized controlled trial with 280 older adults having cognitive decline who were randomly assigned to either a multicomponent exercise group (n = 140) that attended weekly 90-minute exercise and cognitive training sessions or a health education control group (n = 140). The cortical thickness and cognitive performance were assessed at the baseline and at trial completion (10 months). The cortical thickness in the frontal and temporal regions was determined using FreeSurfer software. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool (NCGG-FAT). The cortical thickness significantly increased in the middle temporal (p < 0.001) and temporal pole (p < 0.001) in the multicomponent exercise group compared with the control group. Cortical thickness changes were significantly associated with change in trail making test (TMT)-A, TMT-B, and story memory after a 10-month multicomponent exercise intervention. This study suggests that multicomponent exercise programs combining physical exercise and cognitive training have important implications for brain health, especially in providing protection from age-related cortical thinning.

Relationship between instrumental activities of daily living performance and incidence of mild cognitive impairment among older adults: A 48-month follow-up study

Early prevention of mild cognitive impairment MCI is crucial because individuals with MCI are at high risk for progression to dementia. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the performance of instrumental activities of daily living IADL and future incidence of MCI among community-dwelling older adults in Japan. A total of 1595 individuals without cognitive impairment at baseline participated in this prospective cohort study with a 48-month follow-up period. Performance on the following IADL was assessed at baseline: handling cash and banking, shopping for necessities, going out using buses/trains, using maps to travel to unfamiliar places, and operating video/DVD players. Objective cognitive screening using the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology–Functional Assessment Tool and Mini-Mental State Examination was conducted at baseline and follow-up; new MCI incidence over the 48 months was determined. Of all participants, 922 (57.8 %) had a limitation in at least one IADL at baseline. During the follow-up period, 179 (11.2 %) participants experienced a transition from normal cognition to MCI. Participants who had not engaged in “going out using buses/trains” or “using maps to travel to unfamiliar places” at baseline showed a significantly higher risk of MCI incidence than those who had engaged in such activities. Limitations in outdoor IADL were associated with MCI onset. Individuals with such limitations need to be monitored, as these limitations are strong indicators of cognitive decline and MCI.

Relationships between cognitive leisure activities and cognitive function in older adults with depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThe current study aimed to elucidate the associations between cognitive leisure activities and cognitive function in an older population stratified by having or not having depressive symptoms.DesignA retrospective cross-sectional study...

Characteristics of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Northern Japanese Community-Dwellers from the ORANGE Registry.

A gradually increasing prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is recognized in the super-aging society that Japan faces, and early detection and intervention in community-dwellers with MCI are critical issues to prevent dementia. Although many previous studies have revealed MCI/non-MCI differences in older individuals, information on the prevalence and characteristics of MCI in rural older adults is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate differential characteristics between older adults with and without MCI. The investigation was conducted over one year from 2018 to 2019. Participants were recruited from Akita in northern Japan. Neuropsychological assessments were applied to classify MCI, including the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Functional Assessment Tool (NCGG-FAT) and the Touch panel-type Dementia Assessment Scale (TDAS) based on the Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale. Our samples consisted of 103 older adults divided into 54 non-MCI and 49 MCI. The MCI group had lower scores of all cognitive items. Our results showed that individuals with MCI had significantly slower walking speed (WS) and worse geriatric depression scale (GDS) compared to non-MCI. In addition, WS was significantly associated with some cognitive items in non-MCI, but not in MCI. Finally, we showed that predictive variables of MCI were WS and GDS. Our study provides important information about MCI in rural community-dwellers. We suggest that older adults living in a super-aging society should receive lower limb training, and avoiding depression in older adults through interaction of community-dwellers may contribute to preventing the onset of MCI.

Effects of golf training on cognition in older adults: a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundAlthough research indicates that a physically active lifestyle has the potential to prevent cognitive decline and dementia, the optimal type of physical activity/exercise remains unclear. The present study aimed to...

The role of social frailty in explaining the association between hearing problems and mild cognitive impairment in older adults

BackgroundWe examined the role of social frailty in the association between hearing problems and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and investigated which cognitive impairment domains are most strongly involved. MethodsParticipants were 4251 older adults (mean age 72.5 ± 5.2 years, 46.1% male) who met the study inclusion criteria. Hearing problems were measured using the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly. Social frailty was identified using responses to five questions. Participants were divided into four groups depending on the presence of social frailty and hearing problems: control, social frailty, hearing problem, and co-occurrence. We assessed memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed using the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool. Participants were categorized into normal cognition, single- and multiple-domain MCI, depending on the number of impaired cognitive domains. ResultsParticipants with multiple-domain MCI exhibited the highest odds ratios (OR) of the co-occurrence group (OR: 3.89, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.96–7.72), followed by the social frailty (OR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.49–4.67), and hearing problem (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.08–3.34) groups, compared with the control group. However, single-domain MCI was not significantly associated with any group. Cognitive domain analysis revealed that impaired executive function and processing speed were associated with the co-occurrence, hearing problem, and social frailty groups, respectively. ConclusionsSocial frailty and hearing problems were independently associated with multiple-domain MCI. Comorbid conditions were more strongly associated with multiple-domain MCI. Longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the causal role of social frailty in the association between hearing impairment and MCI.

Oral function as an indexing parameter for mild cognitive impairment in older adults.

To investigate the association between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and oral status, and to develop an oral-based screening index for MCI. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a total of 5104 community-dwelling adults (aged ≥65 years) from the Obu Study of Health Promotion for the Elderly. Screening for MCI included a standardized personal interview, Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool (which included 8 tasks used to assess logical memory, word list memory, attention and executive function, processing speed, and visuospatial skill) and oral status. In our study, 930 individuals were diagnosed with MCI, whereas the remaining 2669 were not. Both men and women with MCI showed a significantly lower number of functional and present teeth, poorer oral diadochokinesis, and less palpation of masseter muscle tension (P < 0.01). Discriminant analysis of participants with MCI, between categories of pertinence and non-pertinence, showed significant associations for age, sex, educational background, handgrip strength, Geriatric Depression Scale score, Mini-Mental State Examination score, history of heart disease, albumin level and oral diadochokinesis representing oral motor skill. Although the diagnosis rate of our screening index for MCI was not high, it was in the acceptable range as a screening index. Oral motor skill, such as lip movement, might be impaired in patients with MCI. Detecting decreasing oral motor dexterity supports the early detection of MCI, and might be key to improve the prognosis of dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 790-798.

Conversion and Reversion Rates in Japanese Older People With Mild Cognitive Impairment

ObjectivesApproximately 25% of individuals who are diagnosed with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) revert to normal cognition (NC) rather than progressing to Alzheimer disease (AD). However, the prevalence of progression and reversion among older people in Asia remains unclear. DesignA prospective cohort study. SettingA community in Japan. ParticipantsA total of 4153 individuals without dementia aged ≥65 years were classified as having NC, aMCI single domain (aMCIs), non-aMCI single domain (naMCIs), aMCI multiple domain (aMCIm), non-aMCI multiple domain (naMCIm), or global cognitive impairment (GCI). MeasurementsThe National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool and the Mini-Mental State Examination were used to conduct cognitive screening. The participants completed baseline (August 2011 to June 2012) and follow-up (August 2015 to June 2016) assessments. We followed up monthly for newly incident AD, as recorded by the Japanese National Health Insurance and Later-Stage Medical Care systems. Multiple imputation was used to adjust for selection bias and loss of information. ResultsAt 4-year follow-up, the reversion rates to NC in aMCIs, naMCIs, aMCIm, naMCIm, and GCI were 38.7%, 57.0%, 25.7%, 20.9%, and 43.7%, respectively. Of the participants with NC, aMCIs, naMCIs, aMCIm, naMCIm, and GCI at baseline, 4.7%, 4.5%, 13.1%, 20.6%, 21.6%, and 14.3%, respectively, were subsequently diagnosed with AD. We found significant associations between incident AD and naMCIs [hazard ratio (HR) compared to NC: 2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.45-3.26], and between AD and aMCIm (HR: 4.39, 95% CI: 2.06-9.39) and between AD and naMCIm (HR: 3.60, 95% CI: 2.13-6.08). However, the association between incident AD and aMCIs and between AD and GCI did not reach significance. ConclusionReversion to NC from MCI and GCI was frequent, and individuals with aMCIs and GCI did not show higher risk of incident AD than those with NC. Older adults with multiple cognitive impairments may be potential targets for preventing dementia.

COGNITIVE FRAILTY AND INCIDENCE OF DEMENTIA IN OLDER PERSONS

Cognitive frailty may be a preventive or therapeutic target for preventing dementia and functional decline with age. To examine the relationship between physical and cognitive frailty and the incidence of dementia in community-living older persons. A prospective cohort study. Setting: General community in Japan. Participants: A total of 4072 persons aged ≥ 65 years. A community in Japan. A total of 4072 community-dwelling older persons aged ≥ 65 years participated in the study. We characterized physical frailty as ≥ 3 of the following criteria: slow walking speed, muscle weakness, exhaustion, low physical activity, and weight loss. We used the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool, which includes tests of word list memory, attention, and executive function, and processing speed to screen for cognitive frailty. The presence of ≥ 2 cognitive impairments, indicated by an age-adjusted score of at least 1.5 standard deviations below the reference threshold, was defined as cognitive frailty. The incidence of dementia was determined using data collected by the Japanese Health Insurance System over 24 months. The overall prevalence rates of physical frailty, cognitive impairment, and cognitive frailty (i.e., coexistence of frailty and cognitive impairment) were 5.1%, 5.5%, and 1.1%, respectively. During the follow-up period, 81 participants (2.0%) developed dementia. We found significant relationships between the incidence of dementia and cognitive impairment (hazard ratio (HR): 3.85, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.09–7.10) and cognitive frailty (HR: 6.19, 95% CI: 2.7–13.99). However, the association between dementia and physical frailty did not reach significance (HR: 1.95, 95% CI: 0.97–3.91). Individuals with cognitive frailty had the highest risk of dementia. Future research should implement dementia prevention strategies among older persons with cognitive frailty.

Validity of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool and Mini-Mental State Examination for detecting the incidence of dementia in older Japanese adults.

Numerous neuropsychological tests are implemented in the clinical setting. However, a readily available cognitive test is required to detect the risk of dementia in the community setting. A total of 4151 persons aged ≥65years participated in the present prospective cohort study. We assessed cognitive performance using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool. The National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool includes tests of story and word list memory, attention and executive function, processing speed, and visuospatial skill to screen for cognitive impairment. All measurements were transformed to Z-scores to compare among the cognitive tests. The incidence of dementia was determined using data collected by the Japanese Health Insurance System over 36months. After an average of 43months, 180 (4.3%) participants were diagnosed with dementia. Survival analyses showed that the probability of dementia was significantly associated with all cognitive tests, except for visuospatial skill. The processing speed test showed the highest hazard ratios for the incidence of dementia (Z-score: hazard ratio 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.50-0.75, P<0.01). In subgroup analysis, there were no significant relationships between cognitive tests and the incidence of dementia in participants without global cognitive impairment. We conclude that the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool, as well as the Mini-Mental State Examination, play an important role in detecting the risk of dementia in the community setting. Further analysis is required to identify the risk of dementia in older people without global cognitive impairment. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2383-2388.

Impact of poor sleep quality and physical inactivity on cognitive function in community‐dwelling older adults

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether the combination of subjective sleep quality and physical activity is associated with cognitive performance among community-dwelling older adults. Cross-sectional data on 5381 older adults who participated in part of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology - Study of Geriatric Syndromes were analyzed. We assessed general cognitive impairment using the Mini-Mental State Examination, and also assessed story memory, attention, executive function and processing speed using the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Functional Assessment Tool. Physical activity was assessed using two questionnaires, and participants were categorized as active or inactive. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and participants were categorized as having poor (PS) or good sleep quality (GS). Participants in the inactive + PS group had worse performances than those in the active + GS group in all cognitive measures (Mini-Mental State Examination: P = 0.008, story memory: P = 0.007, other cognitive measures: P < 0.001), and also had worse performances than those in the inactive + GS and active + PS groups in the trail-making test, part B, and the symbol digit substitution test (P < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, participants in the inactive + GS group had worse performances than in the active + GS in the trail-making test, part B, and the symbol digit substitution test (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001, respectively). Inactivity and poor sleep quality were associated with poor cognitive performance among community-dwelling older adults. The combination of poor sleep quality and physical inactivity also worsened cognitive performance. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1823-1828.

Cognitive Frailty and Incidence of Dementia in Older Persons.

Cognitive frailty may be a preventive or therapeutic target for preventing dementia and functional decline with age. To examine the relationship between physical and cognitive frailty and the incidence of dementia in community-living older persons. A prospective cohort study. General community in Japan. A total of 4072 persons aged ≥ 65 years. A community in Japan. A total of 4072 community-dwelling older persons aged ≥ 65 years participated in the study. We characterized physical frailty as ≥ 3 of the following criteria: slow walking speed, muscle weakness, exhaustion, low physical activity, and weight loss. We used the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool, which includes tests of word list memory, attention, and executive function, and processing speed to screen for cognitive frailty. The presence of ≥ 2 cognitive impairments, indicated by an age-adjusted score of at least 1.5 standard deviations below the reference threshold, was defined as cognitive frailty. The incidence of dementia was determined using data collected by the Japanese Health Insurance System over 24 months. The overall prevalence rates of physical frailty, cognitive impairment, and cognitive frailty (i.e., coexistence of frailty and cognitive impairment) were 5.1%, 5.5%, and 1.1%, respectively. During the follow-up period, 81 participants (2.0%) developed dementia. We found significant relationships between the incidence of dementia and cognitive impairment (hazard ratio (HR): 3.85, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.09-7.10) and cognitive frailty (HR: 6.19, 95% CI: 2.7-13.99). However, the association between dementia and physical frailty did not reach significance (HR: 1.95, 95% CI: 0.97-3.91). Individuals with cognitive frailty had the highest risk of dementia. Future research should implement dementia prevention strategies among older persons with cognitive frailty.