Impact of cognitive decline on the physical functioning of older adults in Southern Brazil: a cross-sectional study

TL;DR

This study finds that cognitive decline in older adults in Southern Brazil is linked to worse physical functioning, including balance, strength, and endurance.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence on the relationship between cognitive decline and physical function in an understudied Brazilian older population.

Findings

Cognitively unimpaired older adults showed significantly better physical function than those with mild or severe cognitive impairment.

Physical performance in balance, strength, flexibility, and endurance decreased with higher levels of cognitive decline.

The study highlights the importance of physical indicators in identifying cognitive decline in clinical settings.

Abstract

Reduced physical function has been linked to cognitive decline, yet this relationship remains understudied in the older Brazilian population. This study evaluates the impact of cognitive decline on physical functioning in older adults in Southern Brazil.

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with community-dwelling older adults (n = 336), categorized as cognitively unimpaired (CU, n = 181), mild cognitive impairment range (MCI-range, n = 105), or dementia-range (n = 50) based on Montreal Cognitive Assessment cutoff points adapted for the Brazilian population. Physical function was assessed using tests for balance, strength, flexibility, and aerobic endurance. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni tests.

Most physical function variables worsened as cognitive impairment increased. The CU group performed significantly better than the MCI- and dementia-range groups in dynamic and static balance, upper-body strength (η2 = 0.09), upper- and lower-body flexibility (η2 = 0.07, η2 = 0.08), and aerobic endurance (η2 = 0.11) (p < 0.05).

Cognitive status influences physical function in older adults. Identifying physical indicators linked to cognitive decline may improve screening efforts in clinical trials.

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