Differential prediction of global and everyday cognition by physical frailty and chronological age

Abstract

The present study explores whether physical frailty and chronological age differentially predicts global cognition and everyday cognitive function. Data came from 1,668 community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong. Physical frailty was measured using the Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illness, and Loss of weight scale and grip strength. Global and everyday cognitive function were measured by Cantonese Chinese Montreal Cognitive Assessment and 4-item short Lawton Instrumental Activities Daily Living scale respectively. After controlling for education, chronological age explained a larger variance than physical frailty of global cognition in women. In contrast, physical frailty had more predictive power than chronological age in estimating everyday cognitive function in both genders. While the unmodifiable chronological age predicts global cognition, physical frailty has a greater contribution to everyday cognitive function. Our findings suggest that the interaction between physical frailty and cognition may be particularly relevant at everyday functioning level, and represents a worthy target for interventions. © The Author 2016.