Does mild cognitive impairment accelerate age-related changes in physical function and body composition? A three-year longitudinal follow-up study

Abstract

This prospective study examined the impact of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on age-related changes in physical function and body composition among community-dwelling older adults. Older adults aged 70 years and above (n = 180) completed at baseline and three-year follow-up assessments of physical function and body composition. Participants were divided into the MCI and non-MCI groups based on baseline status. A two-way repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), adjusting for age and gender, was used to analyze the group (MCI and non-MCI) by time (baseline and three-year follow-up) interaction. No variables had significant group by time interactions. Stratified analyses by gender confirmed a significant group by time interaction on BMI (F = 5.63, p = 0.02) and ASMI (F = 6.33, p = 0.01) among women (adjusted for age). The close associations of MCI with shrinking and muscle mass loss have important implications for targeting interventions among MCI women.