Abstract
Background
Our study aims to explore the relationship between cognitive decline and sarcopenia in the elderly. Additionaly, we seek to identify which specific measures of sarcopenia are most strongly associated with cognitive decline.
Methods
This study involved 1,327 elderly participants (261 men and 1,065 women), all aged 65 and older, who voluntarily agreed to participate after being selected from applicants to a project commissioned by the Sports Support Division of the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Government. The survey was conducted over a period of seven months. All variables were assessed through face-to-face interactions. Sarcopenia and frailty were directly evaluated using physical function tests included in the survey items, while the remaining variables were assessed using questionnaires. To investigate the relationship between cognitive impairment and sarcopenia, odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using a logistic regression model.
Results
Factors associated with cognitive impairment included demographic variables such as gender (OR = 1.585, p < .004), age over 86 years (OR = 1.492, p < .029), and residential area (OR = 1.369, p < .016). Disease-related factors included depression (OR = 15.420, p < .001), diabetes (OR = 4.967, p < .001), hypertension (OR = 2.573, p < .001), arthritis (OR = 3.158, p < .001), sarcopenia (OR = 7.386, p < .001), and frailty (OR = 8.399, p < .001), all of which were statistically significant. A detailed analysis of the sarcopenia items revealed that muscle strength reduction (OR = 1.621, p = .029) was statistically significant, indicating a negative impact on cognitive function decline in the elderly.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that sarcopenia negatively impacts cognitive function decline in the elderly. Specifically, among the sarcopenia survey questions, muscle strength reduction was identified as a significant factor contributing to cognitive decline. These findings underscore the importance of efforts to prevent muscle strength reduction.