Background
Poorer cognition and reduced brain volumes are found to be associated with frailty. We examine the influence of frailty on cognitive and neuroimaging measures in a Southeast Asian cohort of MCI.
Methods
Using a cross-sectional design, 356 MCI participants completed neuropsychological assessments. We performed a multivariable linear regression comparing pre-frail/frail and non-frail groups on cognitive, behavioural and brain volumes controlling for age and total intracranial volume and a partial correlation of frailty and walking speed on brain volumes.
Results
Mean age of our cohort was 65.26 ± 9.10, mean education years was 13.36 ± 4.12 and 54.21% were women. The pre-frail/frail group had worse cognition, mild behavioural impairment, mood, physical activity and quality of life (p < 0.05). Faster walking speed was associated with greater hippocampal volume (r = 0.139, p = 0.048).
Conclusions
Frailty is associated with worse cognition and lifestyle outcomes. Walking speed could be a potential biomarker of dementia.