The relationship between the frailty of the older adults and cognitive function, activities of daily living, and life satisfaction

• Published in: Alzheimer's & dementia Vol. 19; no. S8
• Main Authors: Lee, Gyeong A, Park, Ji‐Hyuk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2023
• ISSN: 1552-5260; 1552-5279
• DOI: 10.1002/alz.062858

Background Frailty belongs to the pre‐disability stage and is closely related to the transition to disability. It is more fatal when frailty occurs in older adults than in other age groups. By understanding the negative negative outcomes of frailty on the health of older adults, they will be able to manage their own health and prevent disability. This study aims to examine whether the frailty of older adults contributes to cognitive function, activities of daily living, life satisfaction. Method The study sample was 9,885 community‐dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older. Data obtained from the 2020 survey of living conditions and welfare needs of older Koreans. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine whether frailty and cognitive function, activities of daily living, life satisfaction are significantly related even after controlling for factors influencing dependent variables. Life‐course determinants factors (i.e. age, sex, spouse, education, living environment, life events, lifestyle) were entered in block 1, the number of chronic diseases was entered in block 2, and frailty factors(physical, psychological, social) was entered in block 3. Result The analysis results are as follows. First, cognitive function decreased significantly as physical, psychological, and social frailty (β = 0.100, p<0.001; β = 0.104, p<0.001; β = 0.112, p<0.001, respectively) increase. Second, as physical, psychological, and social frailty (β = 0.063, p<0.001; β = 0.283, p<0.001; β = 0.032, p = 0.003, respectively) increase, the basic activities of daily living decreased significantly. Third, as physical, psychological, and social frailty (β = 0.140, p<0.001; β = 0.304, p<0.001; β = 0.028, p = 0.008, respectively) increase, the instrumental activities of daily living decreased significantly. Fourth, as physical, psychological, and social frailty (β = 0.041, p<0.001; β = 0.209, p<0.001; β = 0.076, p<0.001, respectively) increase, life satisfaction decreased significantly. Conclusion In this study, it was investigated whether frailty (physical, psychological, and social) contributes to cognitive function, the activities of daily living, and life satisfaction among older adults. This finding suggests that frailty may be related to health‐related variables of older adults.