Frailty and functional status among older adults with cognitive impairment: data from the second wave of the FIBRA study

Author(s)

Beatriz Raz Franco de Santana ^[1] ; Flávia Silva Arbex Borim ^[2] ; Daniela de Assumpção ^[3] ; Anita Liberalesso Neri ^[4] ; Mônica Sanches Yassuda

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas. Postgraduate Program in Gerontology - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas. Postgraduate Program in Gerontology - Brasil

^[3] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas. Postgraduate Program in Gerontology - Brasil

^[4] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas. Postgraduate Program in Gerontology - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Dement. Neuropsychol.; v. 18, 2024-02-09.

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Frailty is defined as a recognizable state of increased vulnerability resulting from age-associated decline of function in various physiological systems, such that the ability to deal with acute or everyday stressors is compromised. Objective: The aim of the study was to characterize the sample of older adults with cognitive impairment, according to the frailty status indirectly assessed by family members, other clinical and sociodemographic variables; and to assess the overlap of clinical conditions evaluated in this sample with cognitive impairment. Methods: Data were extracted from the follow-up database of the Frailty in Brazilian Older Adults (FIBRA) study (2016-2017). The sample consisted of 130 elderly people with cognitive impairment assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). The scores for the Clinical Dementia Scale (CDR), Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia and Functional Activities Questionnaire were described. Frailty was indirectly measured through questions answered by family members about the five criteria that compose the frailty phenotype. Results: The sample consisted mostly of older women (n=91) with a mean age of 82.4 (SD=5.3) years, mean schooling of 3.3 years (SD=3.07), widowed (47.7%) and who lived with children and/or grandchildren (68%). More than half had multimorbidity (74.90%), 39.5% had depression symptoms suggestive of major depression, 57% had impaired functionality, 49.3% were frail, 37.6% pre-frail, and 13.10% robust. Conclusion: Among older adults with cognitive impairment, frailty and functional limitations are common. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/08298-2 - Follow-up study of the Campinas and Ermelino Matarazzo cohorts of the FIBRA study: predictors and outcomes of frailty in the elderly in Brazil
• Grantee: Beatriz Raz Franco de Santana
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 16/00084-8 - Longitudinal study of the Campinas and Ermelino Matarazzo cohorts of the FIBRA study: predictors and outcomes of frailty among the elderly in Brazil
• Grantee: Monica Sanches Yassuda
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants