Undiagnosed Dementia Is Associated with Poor Physical Function in Older Adults

Overview

Journal J Alzheimers Dis

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialties Geriatrics
Neurology

Date 2022 Aug 1

PMID 35912741

Authors

Ryan McGrath

Sheria G Robinson-Lane

Lukus Klawitter

Yeong Rhee

Jeremy M Hamm

Mark E McCourt

Kelly Parker

Kyle J Hackney

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Older adults with a cognitive impairment, including those not yet diagnosed, may have deficits in their physical function.

Objective: We sought to determine the associations of cognitive impairment consistent with dementia (CICD) diagnosis status on handgrip strength, gait speed, and functional disability in older adults.

Methods: The analytical sample included 8,383 adults aged ≥65-years without history of stroke, cancers, neurological conditions, or brain damage who participated in at least one-wave of the 2010-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. A handgrip dynamometer measured handgrip strength. Men with handgrip strength <26 kg and women <16 kg were weak. Gait speed was timed across a 2.5-m course and those with slowness had gait speed <0.8 m/s. Participants with difficulty or an inability in completing any basic activities of daily living had a functional disability. The adapted Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status evaluated cognitive function. Persons with scores <7 had a CICD. Healthcare provider dementia-related diagnosis was self-reported. Undiagnosed CICD was defined as no reported dementia-related diagnosis but had CICD, while diagnosed CICD was classified as reporting a dementia-related diagnosis. Covariate-adjusted logistic models were used for the analyses.

Results: Persons with undiagnosed CICD had 1.37 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-1.80) greater odds for weakness and 2.02 (CI: 1.39-2.94) greater odds for slow gait speed. Older adults with diagnosed CICD had 2.29 (CI: 1.32-3.97) greater odds for slowness and 1.85 (CI: 1.19-2.90) greater odds for functional disability.

Conclusion: Screening for CICD could be recommended when defects in physical function are observed in older adults.

Citing Articles

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Hamedani A, Chang A, Chen Y, VanderBeek B Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2024; 262(12):3947-3955.

PMID: 38995351 PMC: 11608381. DOI: 10.1007/s00417-024-06573-z.

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