The longitudinal bidirectional association between sarcopenia and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults

Findings from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Bibliographic Data

ID19550866
AuthorsJiajia Zhang (0000-0002-2916-0636, Capital Medical University), Xiuqin Jia (Capital Medical University), Yingying Li (0000-0002-1858-4257, Capital Medical University, corresponding author), Haibin Li (0000-0003-0815-594X, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital), Qi Yang (0000-0002-6214-6828, Capital Medical University)
Year2023
Volume13
Pages04182-04182
Publication date2023-12-27
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Global Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2047-2978 • E-ISSN: 2047-2986
PublisherInternational Society of Global Health (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.7189/jogh.13.04182
PMID38148730
OpenAlexW4390272530
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited52

Background: Although an association between sarcopenia and cognitive function has been demonstrated, the directional association remains unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal reciprocal relationship and identify the possible temporal sequence between sarcopenia and cognitive function in older Chinese adults. Methods: Data were collected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) baseline survey in 2011 and the follow-up survey in 2015. Cognitive function was measured by episodic memory and executive function. Sarcopenia status (non-sarcopenia, possible sarcopenia and sarcopenia) was defined based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Linear regression analysis and ordinal logistic regression analysis were employed to investigate the relationship between baseline sarcopenia status and follow-up cognition, as well as the association of baseline cognition with follow-up sarcopenia status, respectively. A cross-lagged panel analysis was performed to simultaneously evaluate the bidirectional association and the strength of the temporal relationship. Results: Of 2689 participants, the median age was 65.0 years and 1249 (46.5%) were female. After adjusting for potential confounders and baseline measurements, baseline sarcopenia status was dose-dependently associated with subsequent cognitive scores (β = -0.45; P for trend = 0.001), and baseline cognitive scores (in tertiles) were also dose-dependently associated with subsequent sarcopenia status (odds ratio (OR) = 0.86; P for trend = 0.017). The cross-lagged panel analysis indicated that the standardised effect size of sarcopenia status on cognitive function (β = -0.09; P < 0.001) is larger relative to the effect of cognitive function on sarcopenia status (β = -0.05; P = 0.019). Conclusions: There is a longitudinal, bidirectional relationship between sarcopenia status and cognitive function in older Chinese adults. Sarcopenia is likely the driving force in these dynamic associations. These findings imply that interventions in either sarcopenia or cognitive decline may have the ability to generate reciprocal benefits over time. More research is warranted to confirm these findings and to further elucidate underlying causal pathways

Cognition · Confounding · Logistic regression · Longitudinal study · Psychiatry · Sarcopenia · Dysphagia Assessment and Management · Frailty in Older Adults · Medicine · Nutrition and Health in Aging · Psychology · Gerontology · Internal Medicine

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access