Intrinsic Capacity: Validation of a New WHO Concept for Healthy Ageing in a Longitudinal Chinese Study

Intrinsic capacity decline as a predictor of functional disability in the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To examine the predictive value of intrinsic capacity decline on functional disability among the elderly.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Wanfang Database, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI), Weipu Database (VIP), and Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) were searched for relevant studies published from the inception until June 1, 2024. Stata 17.0 software was used to perform the meta-analysis. The methodological quality was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. The overall quality of evidence used GRADE guidelines to assess. A study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023475461).

RESULTS

The meta-analysis included 8 cohort studies including 9744 elderly people. Functional disability including ADL disability (n = 6) and IADL disability (n = 7). The results showed that intrinsic capacity decline could predict ADL disability (HR = 1.08, 95 %CI 1.04-1.12; I2 = 98.2 %, P < 0.001) and IADL disability (HR = 1.11, 95 %CI 1.05-1.17; I2 = 96.4 %, P < 0.001). The overall risk of bias was low. And the grade of evidence that assessed by GRADE guidelines was rated as moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrinsic capacity decline is a predictor of functional disability in the elderly. Therefore, screening intrinsic capacity decline has important clinical implications for early identifying the risk of functional disability, which contributes to providing individualized interventions ahead of potential functional disability for the elderly, thereby preventing functional disability, improving the quality of life and promoting healthy aging.

Declined intrinsic capacity predicts long-term mortality in Chinese older adults: Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging

BACKGROUND

Intrinsic capacity reflects an individual's functions and capacities across their lifetime. There are few studies on whether the level of intrinsic capacity can predict long-term mortality in Chinese populations.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effects of intrinsic capacity on long-term outcomes in older Chinese adults.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging. Overall, 1699 community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years were included and followed up for 8 years. Intrinsic capacity was determined according to the World Health Organization definition. The predictive ability for adverse outcomes was assessed using the age- and sex-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

A decline in intrinsic capacity domains was observed in 729 (42.9 %) participants. Declines in the mobility, cognition, vitality, sensory and psychology domains were observed in 21.8 %, 15.1 %, 11.4 %, 9.10 %, and 14.2 % of the participants, respectively. Low intrinsic capacity was associated with worse physical performance, frailty, social frailty, chronic diseases, fracture, and falls. A greater decline in intrinsic capacity predicted an elevated 8-year mortality rate (decline in overall intrinsic capacity hazard ratio 2.91, 95 % confidence interval 2.44-3.47, P < 0.001; decline in one domain hazard ratio 2.11, 95 % confidence interval 1.71-2.61, P < 0.001; decline in two domains hazard ratio 3.54, 95 % confidence interval 2.81-4.45, P < 0.001; decline in three or more domains hazard ratio 5.30, 95 % confidence interval 4.09-6.87, P < 0.001); adjusted models did not affect prediction performance. Among the five domains of intrinsic capacity, cognition was the strongest predictor of mortality (hazard ratio 3.17, 95 % confidence interval 2.63-3.81, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Intrinsic capacity is useful in identifying older adults at higher risk of adverse outcomes, presenting significant implications for healthcare policies in China.

Intrinsic capacity transitions predict overall and cause-specific mortality, incident disability, and healthcare utilization

OBJECTIVES

To develop an intrinsic capacity (IC) score and to investigate the association between IC transition with overall and cause-specific mortality, incident disability and healthcare utilization.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Data from 1852 respondents aged ≥ 65 years who completed the 1999 and 2003 surveys of the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging were analyzed.

MEASUREMENTS

Transitions of IC score were categorized into three groups: (1) Improved IC (IC2003-1999 >0), (2) Stable IC (IC2003-1999 = 0), (3) Worsened IC (IC2003-1999 <0). Cox regression and subdistribution hazard models were used to investigate IC transitions and 4-year overall and cause-specific mortality, respectively. Logistic regression were employed to develop weighted IC score (wIC, 0-16) and assess its association with incident disability and healthcare utilization. Similar analysis were repeated using non-weighted IC (nIC, 0-8) to ensure robustness.

RESULTS

Comparing to decreased wIC group, stable or increased wIC participants had significantly lower 4-year all-cause mortality, and death from infection, cardiometabolic/cerebrovascular diseases, organ failure and other causes. (Hazard ratio (HR) ranged from 0.36 to 0.56, 95% CI ranged from 0.15 to 1.00, p ≤ 0.049 in the stable wIC group; HR ranged from 0.41 to 0.51, 95% CI ranged from 0.22 to 0.94, p ≤ 0.034 in the increased wIC group). Moreover, individuals with stable or increased wIC demonstrated lower risk of incident disability and hospitalization. (Odds ratio (OR) = ranged from 0.34 to 0.70, 95% CI ranged from 0.19 to 1.00, p ≤ 0.048). Participants with stable wIC also exhibited reduced risk of emergency department visits (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.41 to 0.82, p = 0.002). These results were generally consistent in the nIC model.

CONCLUSION

Participants with stable or increased IC experienced significantly lower all-cause and most cause-specific mortality, incident disability, and healthcare utilization, which was independent of baseline IC and comorbidities. The findings remained consistent across weighted and non-weighted IC model.

Sleep disturbances and intrinsic capacity trajectories among Chinese older adults: The Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study

Age related decline of intrinsic capacity (IC) is the core of the functional ability and risk factor of adverse outcomes such as disability, hospitalization, and mortality. However, the relationship between sleep disturbance and IC decline are largely unknown. We conducted a longitudinal study and used data of 1514 community elders from the aging arm of the Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study. We found that poor sleep quality is cross-sectional associated with an increased risk of lower IC. In longitudinal analysis, sleep disturbances were inversely associated with composite IC score changes after adjusting for confounders (PSQI>5 vs. PSQI≤5: mean difference [-0.23], P = 0.0005), suggesting that poor sleep quality was associated with a decline in IC during the follow-up period. In conclusion, sleep disturbances were associated with worse IC changes. The results suggest that improving sleep health may help prevent IC decline and hence decreasing the burden of geriatric nursing practice.

Real-life intrinsic capacity screening data from the ICOPE-Care program

The Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) program is a healthcare pathway that uses a screening test for intrinsic capacity (IC) as its entry point. However, real-life data informing on how IC domains cluster and change over time, as well as their clinical utility, are lacking. Using primary healthcare screening data from more than 20,000 French adults 60 years of age or older, this study identified four clusters of IC impairment: 'Low impairment' (most prevalent), 'Cognition+Locomotion+Hearing+Vision', 'All IC impaired' and 'Psychology+Vitality+Vision'. Compared to individuals with 'Low impairment', those in the other clusters had higher likelihood of having frailty and limitations in both activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), with the strongest associations being observed for 'All IC impaired'. This study found that ICOPE screening might be a useful tool for patient risk stratification in clinical practice, with a higher number of IC domains impaired at screening indicating a higher probability of functional decline.

Association between possible sarcopenia and domain-specific cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults: Insights from the Gan-Dau Healthy Longevity Plan

BACKGROUND

Given the established association between sarcopenia and cognitive impairment was mainly in the older and oldest-old population or people with relatively limited education, this study extends the investigation to community-dwelling middle-to-old age adults in urban communities, emphasizing the need for preventive intervention for muscle health and healthy longevity.

METHODS

Data of 712 participants from the Gan-Dau Healthy Longevity Plan were retrieved for analysis, and all participants were stratified by age (50-64, 65-74 and 75+ years old). Possible sarcopenia was defined by 2019 consensus report of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS). This study used four neuropsychological tests for analysis, i.e., Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), California Verbal Learning Test II (CVLT-SF), Digital Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and Verbal fluency (VF) for global and domain-specific cognitive function. Multivariate generalized linear models (GLMs) were employed to investigate the associations between possible sarcopenia and cognitive function in each age-specific groups.

RESULTS

The prevalence of possible sarcopenia increased with age, with 31.8 %, 37.7 %, and 55.6 % in participants aged 5064, 65-74 and, 75+ years, respectively. On the other hand, cognitive performance declined with age. In particular, among participants aged 75+ years with possible sarcopenia, their cognitive performance were poorer than robust counterparts, including MMSE (26.6 [3.4] vs. 27.4 [2.6]), CVTL-SF (total score: 21.5 [5.4] vs. 23.8 [5.5]; 30-second delayed recall: 6.0 [1.7] vs. 6.5 [1.6]), DSST (32.8 [14.3] vs. 41.3 [18.7]), and VF (12.8 [5.1] vs. 14.8 [4.9]). Multivariate generalized linear model indicated that possible sarcopenia was associated with lower MMSE (β: -0.70, p = 0.014) and lower DSST (β: -7.00, p = 0.010) in those aged 50-64 years. Moreover, possible sarcopenia was associated with lower CVLT-SF (total score β:-1.90, p = 0.028), lower DSST (β: -6.45, p < 0.001), and lower VF (β: -1.64, p=0.026) in 75+ years group.

CONCLUSIONS

An association exists between possible sarcopenia and cognitive impairment, encompassing global cognition, delayed memory, verbal fluency, and executive function, among community-dwelling adults of mid-to-old age. Future research is warranted to explore the temporal alterations in this association and the potential effects of interventions aimed at fostering healthy longevity.

Prevalence of intrinsic capacity decline among community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The concept of intrinsic capacity (IC) was introduced to define healthy aging and active aging based on functional capacity, yet there is limited understanding of the risk of IC decline at a population level.

AIMS

To consolidate existing evidence for rates of IC decline and risk factors among community-dwelling adults 60 years or older.

METHODS

According to the PRISMA guidelines, the literature search was independently conducted by two researchers in 8 databases from inception to January 2024 without language restrictions using combinations of free words and subject words. Qualities of included studies were assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI's) critical appraisal checklist for prevalence studies. To pool the data, a random-effect meta-analysis was performed, followed by subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis. All analyses were performed by Stata14.0.

RESULTS

From 1594 records, 15 studies were extracted with 33,070 participants for meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of IC decline in community settings was 67.8% (95% CI: 57.0-78.5%; P < 0.001). The prevalence of IC decline in China (66.0%; 95% CI: 53.2-78.9%) was found to be slightly lower than in other countries/regions (73.0%; 95% CI: 59.8-86.3%); however, this difference was not statistically significant. Other subgroup analyses revealed no statistically significant differences in prevalence. Age, hypertension, diabetes, gender, education level, living status, smoking, regular exercise, marital status, and osteoarthritis are associated with IC decline.

CONCLUSION

More than two-thirds of older adults in the community are affected by IC decline, and age, hypertension, diabetes, female sex, low education level, living alone, smoking, irregular exercise, unmarried, and osteoarthritis are all risk factors for IC decline.

Using cardiorespiratory fitness to operationalize vitality: a path analysis on the hierarchical structure of intrinsic capacity

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of consensus about the operationalization of vitality, which is one of the intrinsic capacity (IC) domains. In particular, no study has investigated whether cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) can be considered a vitality indicator.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether vitality is the upstream domain of IC, and establish the validity of CRF as a vitality indicator, using maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) as a representative.

METHODS

561 older adults from a longitudinal cohort study were included. Variables under consideration were VO2 max, other IC domains, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and handgrip strength, which was considered an already validated indicator of vitality. Using handgrip strength as the reference point, path analyses were performed to examine whether VO2 max followed a similar hierarchical structure in predicting change in IADL difficulty through other IC domains.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 75.5 years. The path model in which vitality was measured by VO2 max demonstrated adequate fit, which was similar to the model in which vitality was measured by handgrip strength. Regarding the path coefficients, the model using VO2 max demonstrated significant total and indirect effects. Notably, the indirect effect was due to the locomotor domain (standardized coefficient = -0.148, p < .001), but not the cognitive or psychological domain.

CONCLUSION

Vitality is the upstream domain of IC. VO2 max can be considered an indicator to operationalize the vitality concept.

Phytonutrients in the promotion of healthspan: a new perspective

Considering a growing, aging population, the need for interventions to improve the healthspan in aging are tantamount. Diet and nutrition are important determinants of the aging trajectory. Plant-based diets that provide bioactive phytonutrients may contribute to offsetting hallmarks of aging and reducing the risk of chronic disease. Researchers now advocate moving toward a positive model of aging which focuses on the preservation of functional abilities, rather than an emphasis on the absence of disease. This narrative review discusses the modulatory effect of nutrition on aging, with an emphasis on promising phytonutrients, and their potential to influence cellular, organ and functional parameters in aging. The literature is discussed against the backdrop of a recent conceptual framework which describes vitality, intrinsic capacity and expressed capacities in aging. This aims to better elucidate the role of phytonutrients on vitality and intrinsic capacity in aging adults. Such a review contributes to this new scientific perspective-namely-how nutrition might help to preserve functional abilities in aging, rather than purely offsetting the risk of chronic disease.

The Global Research Trends on Intrinsic Capacity of Older Adults: A Bibliometric and Visual Analysis of Papers Published During 2015-2023

Objective

The concept of intrinsic capacity (IC) revolves around healthy aging and active aging. Since the Introduction of the concept by the World Health Organization in 2015, a series of studies have been conducted by scholars from multiple fields. However, no bibliometric analysis has systematically investigated this issue. We aim to identify the current landscape and frontier trends of scientific achievements on IC in older adults through bibliometric approaches.

Methods

Quantitative analysis of publications relating to IC in older adults from 2015 to 2023 was interpreted and graphed through the Web of Science Core Collection database on December 5, 2023. A variety of quantitative variables was analyzed, including publication and citation counts, H-index, and journal citation reports. Co-authorship, citation, co-citation, and co-occurrence analyses were performed for countries/regions, institutions, authors, and keywords using the VOSviewer and CiteSpace.

Results

A total of 952 original and review articles in English were identified. The European countries possessed an absolute advantage in this field. The most contributive institution was the University of São Paulo. The most productive author is Cesari Matteo from France, followed by Qaisar Rizwan from the United Arab Emirates. However, a relatively low level of research cooperation existed between institutions and authors. Important topics mainly include the connotations, theoretical framework models, evaluation, screening tools, and application scenarios of IC. Among the promising hotspots, "biological aging", "ICOPE", "Covid-19", "prevention", "inflammation", "caf22", "prevalence", and "randomized controlled trial" displayed relatively latest average appearing year.

Conclusion

Global trends indicate a growing scientific output on IC in older adults, and developed countries are leading the way. There is still room for improvement in research team collaboration. The focus gradually shifts from theoretical research to empirical research. It is recommended to pay attention to the latest hot spots, such as "biological aging", "ICOPE implementation", "post-COVID-19 syndrome", and "biomarkers".

Association of intrinsic capacity with functional decline and mortality in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies

BACKGROUND

Together with environmental factors, intrinsic capacity (the composite of all the physical and mental capacities of an individual) has been proposed as a marker of healthy ageing. However, whether intrinsic capacity predicts major clinical outcomes is unclear. We aimed to explore the association of intrinsic capacity with functional decline and mortality in older adults.

METHODS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we conducted a systematic search in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science from database inception to Feb 14, 2024, of observational longitudinal studies conducted in older adults (age ≥60 years) assessing the association of intrinsic capacity with impairment in basic activities of daily living (BADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) or risk of mortality. Estimates were extracted by two reviewers (JLS-S and W-HL) and were pooled using three-level meta-analytic models. The quality of each study was independently assessed by two authors (JLS-S and PLV) using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for longitudinal studies. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 indicator at two levels: within-study (level 2) and between-study (level 3) variation. For associations between intrinsic capacity and IADL and BADL, we transformed data (standardised β coefficients and odds ratios [ORs]) into Pearson product moment correlation coefficients (r) using Pearson and Digby formulas to allow comparability across studies. For associations between intrinsic capacity and risk of mortality, hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs were extracted from survival analyses. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42023460482.

FINDINGS

We included 37 studies (206 693 participants; average age range 65·3-85·9 years) in the systematic review, of which 31 were included in the meta-analysis on the association between intrinsic capacity and outcomes; three studies (2935 participants) were included in the meta-analysis on the association between intrinsic capacity trajectories and longitudinal changes in BADL or IADL. Intrinsic capacity was inversely associated with longitudinal impairments in BADL (Pearson's r -0·12 [95% CI -0·19 to -0·04]) and IADL (-0·24 [-0·35 to -0·13]), as well as with mortality risk (hazard ratio 0·57 [95% CI 0·51 to 0·63]). An association was also found between intrinsic capacity trajectories and impairment in IADL (but not in BADL), with maintained or improved intrinsic capacity over time associated with a lower impairment in IADL (odds ratio 0·37 [95% CI 0·19 to 0·71]). There was no evidence of publication bias (Egger's test p>0·05) and there was low between-study heterogeneity (I2=18·4%), though within-study (I2=63·2%) heterogeneity was substantial.

INTERPRETATION

Intrinsic capacity is inversely associated with functional decline and mortality risk in older adults. These findings could support the use of intrinsic capacity as a marker of healthy ageing, although further research is needed to refine the structure and operationalisation of this construct across settings and populations.

FUNDING

None.

TRANSLATIONS

For the Spanish and French translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Underlying Mechanisms of the Protective Effects of Lifestyle Factors On Age-Related Diseases

The rise in life expectancy has significantly increased the occurrence of age-related chronic diseases, leading to escalating expenses for both society and individuals. Among the main factors influencing health and lifespan, lifestyle takes a forefront position. Specifically, nutrition, mental activity, and physical exercise influence the molecular and functional mechanisms that contribute to the prevention of major age-related diseases. Gaining deeper insights into the mechanisms that drive the positive effects of healthy lifestyles is valuable for creating interventions to prevent or postpone the development of chronic degenerative diseases. This review summarizes the main mechanisms that underlie the positive effect of lifestyle factors in counteracting the major age-related diseases involving brain health, musculoskeletal function, cancer, frailty, and cardiovascular diseases, among others. This knowledge will help to identify high-risk populations for targeted intervention trials and discover new biomarkers associated with healthy aging.

Transitions in intrinsic capacity among community-dwelling older people and their associated factors: a multistate modelling analysis

OBJECTIVES

Trajectory of intrinsic capacity (IC) can be non-linear and discontinuous, which traditional linear models may not be able to handle. This study thus aimed to model the trajectory of IC as transitions between different IC states and examine their associated factors.

METHODS

Longitudinal data from a sample of community-dwelling older people aged 60 years or above (n = 1,588) was analysed. A set of 14 self-reported items representing different domains of IC were administered annually to measure IC at four time points. Based on the number of impaired IC domains (i.e., cognitive, locomotor, vitality, sensory, and psychological), participants at each time point were classified into one of three IC states, namely state 1 (0 impaired domain), state 2 (1-2 impaired domains), and state 3 (3-5 impaired domains). Multistate modelling was used to identify factors associated with the transitions from one state to another.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 75.0 years, and 77.4% of them were female. At baseline, 12.4% were in state 1, 51.8% were in state 2, and 35.8% were in state 3. 62.8% of participants experienced at least one transition between states, among which 12% experienced a transition every year. The transitions occurred mostly between adjacent IC states and could take place back and forth. Age, sex, marital status, perceived financial adequacy, number of chronic diseases, and self-rated health were the factors associated with the transitions.

CONCLUSION

Findings may serve as a valuable reference for guiding future policies to optimize IC and promote healthy ageing using a person-centred approach.

Development and validation of an intrinsic capacity score in the UK Biobank study

BACKGROUND

In 2015, the World Health Organization introduced the concept of intrinsic capacity (IC) to define the individual-level characteristics that enable an older person to be and do the things they value. This study developed an intrinsic capacity score for UK Biobank study participants and validated its use as a tool for health outcome prediction, understanding healthy aging trajectories, and genetic research.

METHODS

Our analysis included data from 45,208 UK biobank participants who had a complete record of the ten variables included in the analysis. Factor adequacy was tested using Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin, Barthelt's, and the determinant of matrix tests, and the number of factors was determined by the parallel analysis method. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to determine the structure and dimensionality of indicators. Finally, the intrinsic capacity score was generated, and its construct and predictive validities as well as reliability were assessed.

RESULTS

The factor analysis identified a multidimensional construct comprising one general factor (intrinsic capacity) and five specific factors (locomotor, vitality, cognitive, psychological, and sensory). The bifactor structure showed a better fit (comparative fit index = 0.995, Tucker Lewis index = 0.976, root mean square error of approximation = 0.025, root mean square residual = 0.009) than the conventional five-factor structure. The intrinsic capacity score generated using the bifactor confirmatory factor analysis has good construct validity, as demonstrated by an inverse association with age (lower intrinsic capacity in older age; (β) =-0.035 (95%CI: -0.036, -0.034)), frailty (lower intrinsic capacity score in prefrail participants, β = -0.104 (95%CI: (-0.114, -0.094)) and frail participants, β = -0.227 (95%CI: -0.267, -0.186) than robust participants), and comorbidity (a lower intrinsic capacity score associated with increased Charlson's comorbidity index, β =-0.019 (95%CI: -0.022, -0.015)). The intrinsic capacity score also predicted comorbidity (a one-unit increase in baseline intrinsic capacity score led to a lower Charlson's comorbidity index, β = 0.147 (95%CI: -0.173, -0.121)) and mortality (a one-unit increase in baseline intrinsic capacity score led to 25 % lower risk of death, odds ratio = 0.75(95%CI: 0.663, 0.848)).

CONCLUSION

The bifactor structure showed a better fit in all goodness of fit tests. The intrinsic capacity construct has strong structural, construct, and predictive validities and is a promising tool for monitoring aging trajectories.

Factors associated with intrinsic capacity impairment in hospitalized older adults: a latent class analysis

BACKGROUND

Intrinsic capacity (IC) is proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote healthy aging. Although some studies have examined the factors influencing IC, few studies have comprehensively confirmed lifestyle factors on IC, especially IC impairment patterns. The present study aimed to identify the patterns of IC impairment and explore the lifestyle and other factors associated with different patterns of IC impairment.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in a Chinese geriatric hospital. IC was evaluated in five domains according to the recommendations of WHO: cognition, locomotion, vitality, sensory and psychological domains. The sociodemographic and health-related characteristics of participants were assessed.The health promoting lifestyle was evaluated using the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II scale, including nutrition, health responsibility, interpersonal relationships, physical activity, spiritual growth and stress management. We applied latent class analysis to identify IC impairment patterns and compared basic activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, frailty, quality of life and falls among different IC impairment patterns. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors influencing the IC impairment patterns.

RESULTS

Among 237 participants included, the latent class analysis identified three patterns of IC impairment: 44.7% high IC (Class 1), 31.2% intermediate IC mainly locomotor impairment (Class 2) and 24.1% low IC mainly cognitive impairment (Class 3). Older adults in class 1 had the best function ability and quality of life, while class 3 had the highest levels of disability and frailty, the poorest quality of life and a higher prevalence of falls. Compared with class 1, older adults with advanced age (OR = 22.046, 95%CI:1.735-280.149), osteoporosis (OR = 3.377, 95%CI:1.161-9.825), and lower scores in physical activity (OR = 0.842, 95%CI:0.749-0.945), stress management (OR = 0.762, 95%CI:0.585-0.993) and social support (OR = 0.897, 95%CI:0.833-0.965) were more likely to belong to the class 2. Simultaneously, compared with class 1, older adults with advanced age (OR = 104.435, 95%CI:6.038-1806.410), stroke (OR = 3.877, 95%CI:1.172-12.823) and lower scores in physical activity (OR = 0.784, 95%CI:0.667-0.922) and social support (OR = 0.909, 95%CI:0.828-0.998) were more likely to be class 3. In addition, compared with class 2, older adults with a lower score in nutrition (OR = 0.764, 95%CI:0.615-0.950) were more likely to belong to the class 3.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that there are heterogeneous IC impairment patterns in older adults and identifies various associated factors in each pattern, including age, stroke, osteoporosis, social support and lifestyle behaviors such as nutrition, physical activity and stress management. It informs stakeholders on which modifiable factors should be targeted through public health policy or early intervention to promote IC and healthy aging in older adults.

Assessing intrinsic capacity in Taiwan: Initial psychometric properties of the Integrated Care for Older People Screening Tool for Taiwanese (ICOPES-TW)

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization (WHO) proposed the concept of intrinsic capacity (comprising composite physical and mental capacity) which aligns with their concepts of healthy aging and functional ability. Consequently, the WHO promotes the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) framework as guidance for geriatric care. Consequently, each government should have a screening tool corresponding to ICOPE framework to promote geriatric care. The present study examined the initial psychometric properties of the Taiwan version of ICOPE (i.e., ICOPES-TW).

METHODS

Older people (n = 1235; mean age = 72.63 years; 634 females [51.3%]) were approached by well-trained interviewers for participation. A number of measures were administered including the ICOPES-TW, WHOQOL-AGE (assessing quality of life [QoL]), Clinical Frailty Scale (assessing frailty), Barthel Index (assessing basic activity of daily living [BADL]), and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (assessing instrumental activity of daily living [IADL]).

RESULTS

The ICOPES-TW had a two-factor structure (body functionality [eigenvalue = 1.932] and life adaptation [eigenvalue = 1.170]) as indicated by the results of exploratory factor analysis. Internal consistency of the ICOPES-TW was low (Cronbach's α = 0.55 [entire ICOPES-TW], 0.45 (body functionality factor), and 0.52 (life adaptation factor). ICOPES-TW scores were significantly (i) positively correlated with age (r = 0.321), IADL (r = 0.313), and frailty (r = 0.601), and (ii) negatively correlated with QoL (r=-0.447), and BADL (r=-0.447), with all p-values < 0.001.

CONCLUSION

The ICOPES-TW could be a useful screening tool for healthcare providers to quickly evaluate intrinsic capacity for Taiwanese older people given that it has moderate to strong associations with age, BADL, IADL, QoL, and frailty.

Is 70 the new 60? A longitudinal analysis of cohort trends inintrinsic capacity in England and China

To understand how the health of older adults today compares to that of previous generations, we estimated intrinsic capacity and subdomains of cognitive, locomotor, sensory, psychological and vitality capacities in participants of the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing (ELSA) and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). We applied multilevel growth curve models to examine change over time and cohort trends. We found that more recent cohorts entered older ages with higher levels of capacity, and their subsequent age-related declines were somewhat compressed compared to earlier cohorts. These improvements in capacity were large, with the greatest gains being in the most recent cohorts. For example, a 68-year-old ELSA participant born in 1950 had higher capacity than a 62-year-old born just 10 years earlier. Trends were similar for men and women, and findings were generally consistent across English and Chinese cohorts.

Factors associated with the intrinsic capacity in older adults: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

In 2015, the term 'intrinsic capacity' (IC) was proposed by the World Health Organisation to promote healthy aging. However, the factors associated with IC are still discrepant and uncertain.

AIM

We aim to synthesise the factors connected with IC.

METHODS

This scoping review followed the five-stage framework of Arksey and O'Malley and was reported using PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

RESULTS

In all, 29 articles were included. IC of older adults is associated with demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, disease conditions, behavioural factors, and biomarkers. Age, sex, marital status, occupation status, education, income/wealth, chronic diseases, hypertension, diabetes, disability, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and physical activity were emerged as important factors related to the IC of older adults.

CONCLUSIONS

This review shows that IC is related to multiple factors. Understanding these factors can provide the healthcare personnel with the theoretical basis for intervening and managing IC in older adults.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The influencing factors identified in the review help to guide older adults to maintain their own intrinsic capacity, thereby promoting their health and well-being. The modifiable factors also provide evidence for healthcare personnel to develop targeted intervention strategies to delay IC decline.

NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

As this is a scoping review, no patient or public contributions are required.

Adverse outcomes of intrinsic capacity in older adults: A scoping review

Background and Purpose Intrinsic capacity (IC) has been shown to have the greatest impact on an individual's health status and health trajectory and can independently predict adverse outcomes such as mortality and care dependency in older adults. However, the current understanding of adverse outcomes associated with IC is incomplete. Methods A scoping review of the literature from PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Embase databases was conducted from January 2015 to March 2023 to identify articles related to the adverse outcomes associated with IC in older adults. Results 711 studies met screening criteria, and 25 studies met inclusion criteria. These studies reported a total of 17 adverse outcomes related to IC across four domains. (1) Adverse outcomes in the physiological function domains included frailty, pneumonia onset, memory impairment, polypharmacy, incontinence, and poor/fair self-rated health. (2) Clinical outcomes domains included IADL disability, ADL disability, mortality, falls, autonomy decline, and incident dependence. (3) The resource utilization domains included hospitalization, nursing home stays, polypharmacy healthcare costs, and emergency department visits. (4) The other domains mainly included poor quality of life. Conclusion It is evident that IC decline in older adults is associated with a broad spectrum of adverse outcomes spanning cognitive function, activity ability, sensory perception, physical and mental health and living standards. Future studies should further deepen the exploration of IC.

Longitudinal change of intrinsic capacity and associated factors in older Chinese adults: China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

BACKGROUND

Although intrinsic capacity (IC) has been constructed in older populations, whether IC retains the same structure over time has not been formally examined, nor have the factors associated with the changes in IC over time been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to establish that the structure of IC remains unchanged over time by testing its longitudinal measurement invariance and to investigate factors that influence the longitudinal change of IC over time.

METHODS

Data came from 7,271 participants aged 60 and older from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2011 (Wave 1) and 2015 (Wave 3). Bifactor confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to construct IC with its domains, and the longitudinal measurement invariance of IC between Waves was tested.

RESULTS

Bifactor CFA fitted the data well at both Waves and showed good construct validity. Partial scalar invariance was supported with non-invariant intercepts for delayed word recall, math, and close vision. Decreases in IC were associated with increasing age, being female (-0.030, 95% CI: -0.045, -0.016), living in rural areas (-0.019, 95% CI: -0.030, -0.009), BMI < 18.5 (-0.019, 95% CI: -0.035, -0.003), and hypertension (-0.012, 95% CI: -0.022, -0.001). Increases in IC were associated with higher education (primary school: 0.012, 95% CI: 0.001, 0.024; lower secondary school: 0.023, 95% CI: 0.005, 0.041) and drinking ≥4/week (0.019, 95% CI: 0.003, 0.034). Stratifying the sample by gender, the protective effect of education was observed only in women.

CONCLUSIONS

The bifactor structure of the IC construct was valid and retained its meaning over time. Longitudinal changes in IC were associated with various sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, and health conditions, confirming the need to monitor IC for timely intervention, particularly in those with risk factors for IC decline.

A simple scoring algorithm based on intrinsic capacity for functional ability in community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Intrinsic capacity (IC) is a comprehensive indicator of the overall well-being of older adults, and assessing of IC can help identify early stage of disability and tailor intervention to individual needs. However, there is a lack of effective and simple IC assessment tools. This study aimed to establish predictive scoring algorithms of IC to identify older adults at high risk of impaired functional ability.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study in Southern Taiwan, measuring IC using 7 subitems: cognition, locomotion, vitality, vision, hearing, psychological well-being, and medication usage were measured. Functional ability outcomes included frailty, basic activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The capability of 7 domains of IC in predicting functional ability was assessed by multivariable logistic regression. The prediction of capability of scoring algorithms was indicated by receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curves and measures of sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

A total of 1,152 older adults were recruited and analyzed. Locomotion emerged as a significant predictor of IADL disability and worsening frailty. The IC-based weighted scoring algorism for predicting IADL demonstrated satisfactory capability (AUC: 0.80), as did the algorithm for predicting worsening frailty (AUC: 0.90). The optimal cutoff points for predicting IADL disability and frailty worse were estimated respectively at 13 and 16, with sensitivity/specificity values of 0.74/0.75 for the IADL prediction algorithm and 0.92/0.77 for the frailty prediction algorithm.

CONCLUSION

Our 7-domain IC screening tool proves to be sensitive and practical for early identification of functional disability and frailty among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan.

Spousal bereavement and its effects on later life physical and cognitive capability: the Tromsø study

Spousal bereavement is associated with health declines and increased mortality risk, but its specific impact on physical and cognitive capabilities is less studied. A historical cohort study design was applied including married Tromsø study participants (N=5739) aged 50-70 years with baseline self-reported overall health and health-related factors and measured capability (grip strength, finger tapping, digit symbol coding, and short-term recall) at follow-up. Participants had data from Tromsø4 (1994-1995) and Tromsø5 (2001), or Tromsø6 (2007-2008) and Tromsø7 (2015-2016). Propensity score matching, adjusted for baseline confounders (and baseline capability in a subset), was used to investigate whether spousal bereavement was associated with poorer subsequent capability. Spousal bereavement occurred for 6.2% on average 3.7 years (SD 2.0) before the capability assessment. There were no significant bereavement effects on subsequent grip strength, immediate recall, or finger-tapping speed. Without adjustment for baseline digit symbol coding test performance, there was a negative significant effect on the digit symbol coding test (ATT -1.33; 95% confidence interval -2.57, -0.10), but when baseline digit symbol coding test performance was taken into account in a smaller subsample, using the same set of matching confounders, there was no longer any association (in the subsample ATT changed from -1.29 (95% CI -3.38, 0.80) to -0.04 (95% CI -1.83, 1.75). The results in our study suggest that spousal bereavement does not have long-term effects on the intrinsic capacity components physical or cognition capability to a notable degree.

Association of intrinsic capacity with functional ability, sarcopenia and systemic inflammation in pre-frail older adults

Background

Decline in intrinsic capacity (IC) has been shown to accelerate progression to disability. The study aims to explore association of IC composite score with functional ability, sarcopenia and systemic inflammation in pre-frail older adults.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of pre-frail older adults ≥60 years old recruited from the community and primary care centers. Composite scores of four domains of IC were measured: locomotion, vitality, cognition and psychological. FRAIL scale was used to define pre-frailty. Muscle mass was measured using the bioelectrical impedance analysis. Systemic inflammation biomarkers [Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α), and Growth differentiated factor 15 (GDF-15)] were measured. Participants in the lowest tertile (T1) exhibited greater decline in IC.

Results

A total of 398 pre-frail older adults were recruited, mean age was 72.7 ± 5.8 years, 60.1% female, education level 7.8 years, and 85.2% were of Chinese ethnicity. A total of 75.1% had decline in locomotion, 40.5% in vitality, 53.2% in cognition and 41.7% in psychological domain. A total of 95% had decline in at least one domain. T1 was significantly associated with ADL impairment (aOR 3.36, 95% CI 1.78-6.32), IADL impairment (aOR 2.37, 95% CI 1.36-4.13), poor perceived health (aOR 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.98), fall (aOR 1.63, 95% CI 1.05-2.84), cognitive impairment (aOR 8.21, 95% CI 4.69-14.39), depression (aOR 101.82, 95% CI 33.62-308.37), and sarcopenia (aOR 2.40, 95% CI 1.60-5.45). T1 had significant associations with GDF-15, IL-10, and IL-10 to TNF-α ratio.

Conclusion

Decline in IC composite score among pre-frail older adults was associated with functional limitation, sarcopenia, and systemic inflammation.

Social determinants of intrinsic capacity: A systematic review of observational studies

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization defined healthy ageing as the maintenance of functional ability with ageing. Intrinsic capacity is a measurement of healthy ageing, and can be shaped by social determinants. However, an overall understanding of how multiple social determinants contribute to intrinsic capacity remains unclear. We aim to summarize observational studies investigating the relationships between social determinants and intrinsic capacity among community-dwelling adults.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted through Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and CINAHL until August 14, 2023.

RESULTS

After reviewing 813 articles, we included 21 studies from nine countries in Asia, Europe, and America. Seventeen studies used a cross-sectional design and the others were longitudinal studies. Social determinants related to intrinsic capacity can be classified into five domains, containing socioeconomic status (16, 76.2% of studies), lifestyles (14, 66.7%), psychosocial factors (9, 42.9%), material circumstances (4, 19.0%), and healthcare systems (1, 4.8%). Strong evidence supported that better intrinsic capacity was associated with higher education, higher wealth, more physical activities, no smoking, more social engagement, and being married or partnered. The relationships of intrinsic capacity with dietary patterns and alcohol drinking were contradictory across studies. Research on the associations of working status, housing environments, and healthcare accessibility with intrinsic capacity was insufficient to draw conclusions.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight roles of socioeconomic status, lifestyles, and psychosocial factors in improving intrinsic capacity thus promoting healthy ageing. Future research is needed to investigate causal relationships between social determinants and intrinsic capacity, especially material circumstances and healthcare systems.

Household polluting cooking fuels and intrinsic capacity among older population: A harmonized nationwide analysis in India and China

BACKGROUNDS

Household polluting cooking fuels, as an important changeable behavior, are related to various detrimental health effects among the elderly. There is limited research on the association between polluting cooking fuel use and intrinsic capacity (IC) as an indicator of healthy aging. This study aimed to evaluate the above-mentioned association in India and China, where polluting cooking fuel use is common.

METHODS

We enrolled 33,803 participants aged ≥60 years from two nationally representative studies: the Longitudinal Aging Study in India and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Polluting cooking fuel use was defined as a self-report of using wood, coal, kerosene, crop residue, or dung. IC was measured by five aspects, including locomotion, cognition, vitality, sensory, and psychological capacity. The random-effects mixed linear regression and logistic regression with population weighting were performed. Multivariable-adjusted model and propensity score were used to adjust for potential confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 47.54 % and 59.32 % of elderly adults reported primary cooking using polluting fuels in India and China, respectively. Using polluting cooking fuels was consistently associated with IC decline; particularly, cognitive capacity was the most susceptible domain. In India, participants using polluting fuels had a 1.062 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.047-1.078) times risk for IC deficits, whereas more prominent results were observed in China (odds ratio [OR]: 2.040, 95 % CI: 1.642-2.533). Such harmful effects might be alleviated by transferring from polluting to clean fuels. Additionally, the duration of polluting fuel use was also positively associated with IC deficits.

CONCLUSION

This study provided substantial public implications on healthy aging for the elderly population at a global scale, strengthening the importance of health education and policy efforts to accelerate the transition from polluting to clean fuels.

Dysregulation of acyl carnitines, pentose phosphate pathway and arginine and ornithine metabolism are associated with decline in intrinsic capacity in Chinese older adults

BACKGROUND

Intrinsic capacity is the combination of individual physical and mental abilities, reflecting the aging degree of the older adults. However, the mechanisms and metabolic characteristics of the decline in intrinsic capacity are still unclear.

AIMS

To identify metabolic signatures and associated pathways of decline in intrinsic capacity based on the metabolite features.

METHODS

We recruited 70 participants aged 77.19 ± 8.31 years. The five domains of intrinsic capacity were assessed by Short Physical Performance Battery (for mobility), Montreal cognition assessment (for cognition), 30-Item Geriatric Depression Scale (for psychology), self-reported hearing/visual impairment (for sensory) and Nutritional risk screening (for vitality), respectively. The serum samples of participants were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, followed by metabolite set enrichment analysis and metabolic pathway analysis.

RESULTS

There were 50 participants with a decline in intrinsic capacity in at least one of the domains. A total of 349 metabolites were identified from their serum samples. Overall, 24 differential metabolites, 5 metabolite sets and 13 pathways were associated with the decline in intrinsic capacity.

DISCUSSION

Our results indicated that decline in intrinsic capacity had unique metabolomic profiles.

CONCLUSION

The specific change of acyl carnitines was observed to be a feature of decline in intrinsic capacity. Dysregulation of the pentose phosphate pathway and of arginine and ornithine metabolism was strongly associated with the decline in intrinsic capacity.

Cognitive Impairment and Non-Communicable Diseases in Egypt's Aging Population: Insights and Implications from the 2021-2022 Pilot of "A Longitudinal Study of Egyptian Healthy Aging" "AL-SEHA"

As the global population ages, the prevalence of cognitive impairment among older individuals has been steadily rising. Like many countries, Egypt is grappling with the challenges an aging demographic poses. The global network of longitudinal aging studies, modeled after the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS), includes over 40 countries but lacks representation from the Arab/North African region. The proposed 'A Longitudinal Study of Egyptian Healthy Aging' (AL-SEHA) will address this gap by providing data on aging in Egypt, the largest Arab/North African country, shedding light on the intricate relationship between cognitive impairment and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Egypt's aging population between 2021 and 2022. This study took place in five governments in Egypt and recruited 299 participants from a population of 50+. The results of the study are from the pilot stage of the original longitudinal study (AL-SEHA).

Implementation and impact of the World Health Organization integrated care for older people (ICOPE) program in China: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Fragmentation of services increases health and social care burden as people live longer with higher prevalence of diseases, frailty and dependency. Local evidence for implementing person-centred integrated care is urgently needed to advance practice and policies to achieve healthy ageing.

OBJECTIVE

To test the feasibility and impact of World Health Organization's (WHO) Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) approach in China.

DESIGN

A randomised controlled trial examining the feasibility of implementing ICOPE approach, evaluating its impact on health outcomes and health resource utilisation.

SETTING

Primary care setting in urban and suburban communities of Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.

SUBJECTS

Community-dwelling older adults screened as at-risk of functional declines and randomised into intervention (537) and control (1611) groups between September 2020 and February 2021.

METHODS

A 6-month intervention program following WHO's ICOPE care pathways implemented by integrated care managers compared to standard available care.

RESULTS

After 1 to 1 propensity score matching, participants in intervention and control groups (totally 938) had comparable baseline characteristics, demonstrated feasibility of implementing ICOPE with satisfaction by participants (97-99%) and providers (92-93%). All outcomes showed improvements after a 6-month intervention, while statistically significant least-squares mean differences (control-intervention) in vitality (Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short Form to measure vitality, -0.21, 95% CI, -0.40-0.02), mobility (Short Physical Performance Battery to measure mobility, -0.29, 95% CI, -0.44-0.14) and psychological health (Geriatric Depression Scale five items to measure psychological health, 0.09, 95% CI, 0.03-0.14) were observed (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

It is feasible to localise and implement WHO's ICOPE approach in regions with fragmented resources such as China. Preliminary evidence supports its acceptance among key stakeholders and impact on health outcomes.

Reference centiles for intrinsic capacity throughout adulthood and their association with clinical outcomes: a cross-sectional analysis from the INSPIRE-T cohort

Intrinsic capacity (IC), a function-centered construct, is defined as the composite of all physical and mental capacities of an individual. IC and surrounding environmental factors determine an individual's functional ability to do what they want or feel valued. Current literature lacks evidence on how IC varies throughout adulthood. In this study, we demonstrated a method to establish age-specific and sex-specific reference centiles for IC using the Human Translational Research Cohort of the INSPIRE Platform (975 adults, aged 20-102 years, living in the southwest France, Toulouse area). IC was operationalized as the mean score of the five key domains (cognition, locomotion, psychology, sensory and vitality) and the factor score from a bifactor model, respectively. Both IC operationalizations showed higher IC levels in young and middle age and markedly lower levels after age 65 years, with greater inter-individual variation in old age than in youth. Individuals with IC ≤10th percentile tended to have high comorbidity, prefrailty/frailty, difficulties in basic and instrumental activities of daily living and falls than individuals with IC >90th percentile. These findings suggest that IC reference centiles can help monitor the functional capacity of individuals during aging, similar to tracking children's development with growth charts.

The sensitivity and specificity of the WHO's ICOPE screening tool, and the prevalence of loss of intrinsic capacity in older adults: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization has developed the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) program, a public health strategy to maintain older adults' functional abilities and promote healthier aging. The approach comprises a 5-step pathway. Step 1 is the screening for impairment in functions, and Step 2 is an in-depth evaluation to confirm the presence and severity of functional impairment. These initial two steps are crucial to determine the subsequent plan of care (Step 3) and follow-up (Step 4). The fifth step encompasses actions to support families and caregivers and to engage communities. This review gathers data from the literature on the prevalence of positive screenings regarding intrinsic capacity detected by the program's first-step screening tool, and on currently available results regarding the instrument's sensitivity and specificity.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Electronic searches were conducted in the PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and SciElo databases, the medRxiv platform, and recent human aging scientific events, looking for research analyzing the ICOPE screening instrument. Studies reporting data on the prevalence of positive screenings for loss of intrinsic capacity using the proposed screening tool and/or findings on the instrument's sensitivity and specificity were included. A total of 7 publications with participants aged 50 years or more were selected. The prevalence of at least one impairment in intrinsic capacity detected by the instrument varied among the studies from 17.1 % to 94.3 %. Sensitivity ranged from 26.4 % to 100 % and specificity from 22 % to 96 %, depending on the setting and the assessed domain.

CONCLUSION

Currently available data are heterogeneous, and different results were found among the studies due to diverse settings and methodologies. The evidence on the ICOPE screening tool's performance in different populations is still scarce and reinforces the need for further research worldwide.

Measurement properties of instruments to measure the fatigue domain of vitality capacity in community-dwelling older people: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Vitality capacity (VC) is a key domain of intrinsic capacity (IC) and is the underlying biophysiological aspect of IC. Energy and metabolism (E&M) is one of the domains of VC. Fatigue is one of the main characteristics of E&M.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this umbrella review are (i) to identify the available instruments suitable for measuring fatigue in community-dwelling older adults and (ii) to critically review the measurement properties of the identified instruments.

DESIGN

Umbrella review.

SETTING

Healthcare.

SUBJECTS

Community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

PubMed and Web of Knowledge were systematically screened for systematic reviews and meta-analysis reporting on fatigue instruments resulting in 2,263 articles (last search 5 December 2022). The COSMIN checklist was used to appraise psychometric properties and the AMSTAR for assessing methodological quality. Data on fatigue instruments, construct, reference period, assessment method, validated population, reliability, validity, responsiveness and predictive validity on negative health outcomes were extracted.

RESULTS

10 systematic reviews and 1 meta-analysis were included in this study. 70 fatigue instruments were identified in the literature and 21 were originally designed for fatigue. The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale (PFS) and Visual Analogue scale (VAS-F), Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue (FACIT-F) presented good psychometric properties.

CONCLUSIONS

The FSS, FIS, FACIT-F, PFS and the VAS-F presented good psychometric properties in various conditions. Therefore, these instruments could be used to quantify trajectories in the domain E&M in the context of VC in community-dwelling older adults.

A systematic review of the measurement properties of aspects of psychological capacity in older adults

OBJECTIVE

to examine the measurement properties of instruments that have been used to measure aspects of psychological capacity in adults aged 60 years and over.

METHODS

the databases PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMCARE and Scopus from 2010 were searched using search terms related to psychological capacity, older persons and measurement properties. Both data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment were conducted using the COSMIN (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments) criteria using Covidence software.

RESULTS

the full text of 326 articles were reviewed and a total of 30 studies were included, plus two further articles identified from reference lists (n = 32). No single instrument measuring psychological capacity was identified. Twenty (n = 20) instruments were identified that measure seven constructs of psychological capacity: Resilience; Sense of coherence; Hope; Mindfulness; Optimism; Attachment to life; Emotional regulation.

CONCLUSIONS

this systematic review identified potential measures of psychological capacity in older adults. The review will inform further work to develop a single comprehensive measure of psychological capacity in older adults.

Effects of personal and health characteristics on the intrinsic capacity of older adults in the community: a cross-sectional study using the healthy aging framework

BACKGROUND

Intrinsic capacity (IC) can better reflect the physical functioning of older adults. However, few studies have been able to systematically and thoroughly examine its influencing factors and provide limited evidence for the improvement of intrinsic capacity. The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive description of the overall decline in intrinsic capacity among older persons in the community. Additionally, the study aimed to analyze the composition of the five domains of reduction, compare the rate of decline among older adults and investigate the factors that influence this decline.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Chinese community. The self-designed general characteristics questionnaire was created based on the healthy aging framework and a systematic review. Intrinsic capacity was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), Community Health Record Management System (CHRMS), Mini Nutritional Assessment Brief Form (MNA-SF), and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). The influencing factors of intrinsic capacity were investigated using stepwise logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 968 older adults with a mean age of 71.00 (68.00, 76.75) were examined, and 704 older adults (72.7%) showed a decline in intrinsic capacity. There was a decline in at least one domain in 39.3% of older adults, with reductions in each domain ranging from 5.3% (psychological) to 52.4% (sensory). The study examined the composition of domains that experienced a decline in intrinsic capacity. It was found that a combination of sensory and locomotor domains showed the most significant decrease in 44.5% (n = 106) of individuals who experienced a decline in the two domains. Furthermore, a combination of sensory, cognitive, and locomotor domains exhibited a significant decrease in 51.3% (n = 44) of individuals who experienced a reduction in three domains. Lastly, a combination of sensory, vitality, cognitive, and locomotor domains showed the most significant decline in four domains, accounting for 60.0% (n = 15) of the population. Older adults had a higher risk of intrinsic capacity decline if they were older (95% CI:1.158-2.310), had lower education, lived alone (95% CI: 1.133-3.216), smoked (95% CI: 1.163-3.251), high Charlson Comorbidity Index (95% CI: 1.243-1.807) scores, did not regular exercise (95% CI:1.150-3.084), with lower handgrip strength (95% CI: 0.945-0.982).

CONCLUSIONS

We found a relatively high prevalence of intrinsic capacity; more attention should be paid to older adults who are older, less educated, live alone, and have more comorbidities. It is imperative to prioritize a healthy lifestyle among older persons who exhibit smoking habits, lack regular exercise, and possess inadequate handgrip strength.

The relationship between sarcopenia and mortality in Chinese community-dwelling adults: a 7-year cohort study with propensity score matching and Mendelian randomization

Background

Sarcopenia has been linked to adverse health outcomes, including an increased risk of mortality. This study aimed to assess the 7-year mortality risk of sarcopenia in a community-based population in China and explore the causal relationship between components of sarcopenia and any death.

Methods

Data were sourced from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted between 2011 and 2018. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria. Logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis, and propensity score matching with inverse probability of treatment weighting were used. Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, conducted using European population data, were utilized to assess causality between sarcopenia and any death.

Results

The study included 9,006 participants: 3,892 had no sarcopenia, 3,570 had possible sarcopenia, 1,125 had sarcopenia, and 419 had severe sarcopenia. Over 7 years of follow-up, there were 871 deaths, including 196 with sarcopenia and 133 with severe sarcopenia. The KM curves showed that sarcopenia had a higher risk of mortality. Compared to those of no sarcopenia, the odds ratios (ORs) of sarcopenia for 7-year mortality were 1.41 (95% CI, 1.06-1.87) after adjusting for confounding variables (p < 0.05). The ORs of severe sarcopenia were 2.11 (95% CI, 1.51-2.95). Propensity score matching analysis and inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis confirmed these findings. The adjusted ORs of sarcopenia and 7-year mortality were 2.94 (95% CI, 1.6-5.39) in the 45-60 age group, 1.72 (95% CI, 1.11-2.68) in the 60-80 age group, and 5.03 (95% CI, 0.48-52.65) in the ≥80 age group. The ORs of severe sarcopenia and 7-year mortality were 6.92 (95% CI, 1.95-24.5) in the 45-60 age group, 2.59 (95% CI, 1.61-4.17) in the 60-80 age group, and 12.52 (95% CI, 1.18-133.18) in the ≥80 age group. The MR analyses, leveraging the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, unveiled substantial causal links between low hand grip strength in individuals aged 60 and older, the usual walking pace, and mortality risk.

Conclusion

This study underscores the significant impact of sarcopenia and its components on mortality risk within the Chinese population. Particularly, low hand grip strength and usual walking pace emerged as noteworthy contributors to mortality risk.

Intrinsic capacity: an under-researched concept in geriatrics

In 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) introduced the concept of intrinsic capacity (IC) as part of a new public health model for healthy ageing. IC refers to the overall combination of an individual's physical and mental capacities, and is promoted as a new positive approach to the health and wellbeing of older adults. However, there is still insufficient evidence that implementing IC leads to better care for older adults. Moreover, the current operationalisations of IC lead to confusion and redundant research. In this commentary, we discuss whether the concept of IC has added value for geriatrics, and describe the main issues related to its conceptualisation, measurement, and application. We argue that there is a need to clarify and validate the concept of IC, including independent evidence regarding its feasibility and acceptance in clinical practice.

Association of intrinsic capacity with incidence and mortality of cardiovascular disease: Prospective study in UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization proposed the concept of intrinsic capacity (IC; the composite of all the physical and mental capacities of the individual) as central for healthy ageing. However, little research has investigated the interaction and joint associations of IC with cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and CVD mortality in middle- and older-aged adults.

METHODS

Using data from 443 130 UK Biobank participants, we analysed seven biomarkers capturing the level of functioning of five domains of IC to calculate a total IC score (ranging from 0 [better IC] to +4 points [poor IC]). Associations between IC score and incidence of six long-term CVD conditions (hypertension, stroke/transient ischaemic attack stroke, peripheral vascular disease, atrial fibrillation/flutter, coronary artery disease and heart failure), and grouped mortality from these conditions were estimated using Cox proportional models, with a 1-year landmark analysis to triangulate the findings.

RESULTS

Over 10.6 years of follow-up, CVD morbidity grouped (n = 384 380 participants for the final analytic sample) was associated with IC scores (0 to +4): mean hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval, CI] 1.11 [1.08-1.14], 1.20 [1.16-1.24], 1.29 [1.23-1.36] and 1.56 [1.45-1.59] in men (C-index = 0.68), and 1.17 [1.13-1.20], 1.30 [1.26-1.36], 1.52 [1.45-1.59] and 1.78 [1.67-1.89] in women (C-index = 0.70). In regard to mortality, our results indicated that the higher IC score (+4 points) was associated with a significant increase in subsequent CVD mortality (mean HR [95% CI]: 2.10 [1.81-2.43] in men [C-index = 0.75] and 2.29 [1.85-2.84] in women [C-index = 0.78]). Results of all sensitivity analyses by full sample, sex and age categories were largely consistent independent of major confounding factors (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

IC deficit score is a powerful predictor of functional trajectories and vulnerabilities of the individual in relation to CVD incidence and premature death. Monitoring an individual's IC score may provide an early-warning system to initiate preventive efforts.

Intrinsic capacity and 5-year late-life functional ability trajectories of Chinese older population using ICOPE tool: the Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Knowledge of how intrinsic capacity (IC) shape functional ability (FA) trajectories in later life remains unclear. We investigated the changes in IC and their impact on 5-years FA trajectories in the Chinese older population.

METHODS

A total of 1640 older adults from the Rugao Longitudinal Ageing Study were included and analyzed. FA was assessed by The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADLs). We used cognition, psychology, locomotion, sensory capacity, and vitality to capture the multiple domains of IC according to the ICOPE method. The IC was derived retrospectively from variables collected before this was described by WHO.

RESULTS

At baseline, a higher IC was associated with higher IADLs (β = 0.98, 95% CI 0.90, 1.06, P < 0.001). Individuals with declines in IC between wave1 and wave2 experienced a faster decline in IADLs over time (β = - 0.28, 95% CI - 0.40, - 0.16, P < 0.001) after considering covariates. One or more impairment IC scores at baseline strongly predicted death (HR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.11, 1.30, P < 0.001). In addition, according to the IC scores at baseline, we stratify IC in low, middle, and high, compared with those in the high IC score, those in the low were associated with a 2.56-fold (95% CI 1.64, 4.01, P < 0.001) higher risk of mortality, after adjustment for variables.

CONCLUSION

Changes in IC shape FA trajectories. IC impairment is associated with an increased risk of death. Assessing intrinsic capacity would facilitate early identification of older adults at high risk of adverse outcomes and prompt targeted interventions.

New Possibilities for Evaluating the Development of Age-Related Pathologies Using the Dynamical Network Biomarkers Theory

Aging is the slowest process in a living organism. During this process, mortality rate increases exponentially due to the accumulation of damage at the cellular level. Cellular senescence is a well-established hallmark of aging, as well as a promising target for preventing aging and age-related diseases. However, mapping the senescent cells in tissues is extremely challenging, as their low abundance, lack of specific markers, and variability arise from heterogeneity. Hence, methodologies for identifying or predicting the development of senescent cells are necessary for achieving healthy aging. A new wave of bioinformatic methodologies based on mathematics/physics theories have been proposed to be applied to aging biology, which is altering the way we approach our understand of aging. Here, we discuss the dynamical network biomarkers (DNB) theory, which allows for the prediction of state transition in complex systems such as living organisms, as well as usage of Raman spectroscopy that offers a non-invasive and label-free imaging, and provide a perspective on potential applications for the study of aging.

The overall and domain-specific quality of life of Chinese community-dwelling older adults: the role of intrinsic capacity and disease burden

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the impact of the different domains of intrinsic capacity (IC) and chronic disease burden on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and domain-specific HRQoL in Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

Design

A cross-sectional observational study of a community-based cohort.

Participants

We evaluated Chinese older adults (n = 429, mean age, 72.91 ± 7.014 years; female proportion, 57.30%).

Measurements

IC contains five domains, namely locomotion, vitality, cognition, psychological, and sensory capacity. Locomotion dysfunction was defined as grip and/or gait decline. Vitality decline was defined if two of the following three parameters were present: fatigue, physical inactivity, and weight loss or overweight. Cognition was classified into normal cognition, pre-mild cognitive impairment (pre-MCI), and MCI according to the normative z-scores of the neuropsychological test battery. Psychological dysfunction was diagnosed based on depressive symptoms. Sensory dysfunction was defined as hearing and/or vision impairment. HRQoL was assessed using the AQoL-8D scale, which comprised physical (including independent living, senses, and pain) and psychosocial (including mental health, happiness, self-worth, coping, and relationships) dimensions. Low HRQoL (HRQoL score or subscores in the highest quintile) was used as a dependent variable in logistic regression analyses adjusted for demographic, health-related, and psychological confounders.

Results

Sensory impairment was an independent determinant of senses, and locomotion impairment was significantly associated with overall HRQoL, independent living, and pain in the physical dimension of HRQoL. Cognition was an independent determinant of the senses. Vitality was independently associated with overall HRQoL, senses, and pain in the physical dimension and mental health and relationships in the psychological dimension of HRQoL. The psychological domain of IC was independently associated with overall and domain-specific HRQoL apart from senses after adjustment for all confounders. The number of multimorbidities mainly had a significant impact on independent living after adjustment for all confounders.

Conclusion

IC domains and chronic disease burden had heterogeneous influences on overall and domain-specific HRQoL. The impairment of sensory and locomotion domains had a synergistic impact on the overall and physical dimensions of HRQoL. The vitality and psychological domains of IC had more profound effects on HRQoL. Older people with high morbidity might have a higher risk of poor independent living.

Intrinsic capacity in acutely hospitalized older adults

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to examine the association between intrinsic capacity (IC) and adverse outcomes of hospitalization.

DESIGN

A prospective observational cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

We recruited patients aged 65 years or older who were admitted to the geriatric ward of an acute hospital between Oct 2019 and Sep 2022.

MEASUREMENTS

Each of the five IC domains (locomotion, cognition, vitality, sensory, and psychological capacity) was graded into three levels, and the composite IC score was calculated (0, lowest; 10, highest). Hospital-related outcomes were defined as in-hospital death, hospital-associated complications (HACs), length of hospital stay, and frequency of discharge to home.

RESULTS

In total, 296 individuals (mean age 84.7 ± 5.4 years, 42.7 % males) were analyzed. Mean composite IC score was 6.5 ± 1.8, and 95.6 % of participants had impairment in at least one IC domain. A higher composite IC score was independently associated with lower frequency of in-hospital death (odds ratio [OR] 0.59) and HACs (OR 0.71), higher frequency of discharge to home (OR 1.50), and shorter length of hospital stay (β = -0.24, p < 0.01). The locomotion, cognition, and psychological domains were independently associated with the occurrence of HACs, discharge destination, and length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

Evaluating IC was feasible in the hospital setting and was associated with outcomes of hospitalization. For older inpatients with decreased IC, integrated management may be required to achieve functional independence.

Exploring the natural history of intrinsic capacity impairments: longitudinal patterns in the 10/66 study

BACKGROUND

intrinsic capacity (IC) is a construct encompassing people's physical and mental abilities. There is an implicit link amongst IC domains: cognition, locomotion, nutrition, sensory and psychological. However, little is known about the integration of the domains.

OBJECTIVES

to investigate patterns in the presentation and evolution of IC domain impairments in low-and-middle-income countries and if such patterns were associated with adverse outcomes.

METHODS

secondary analyses of the first two waves of the 10/66 study (population-based surveys conducted in eight urban and four rural catchment areas in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Peru, Mexico and China). We applied latent transition analysis on IC to find latent statuses (latent clusters) of IC domain impairments. We evaluated the longitudinal association of the latent statuses with the risk of frailty, disability and mortality, and tested concurrent and predictive validity.

RESULTS

amongst 14,923 participants included, the four latent statuses were: high IC (43%), low deterioration with impaired locomotion (17%), high deterioration without cognitive impairment (22%), and high deterioration with cognitive impairment (18%). A total of 61% of the participants worsened over time, 35% were stable, and 3% improved to a healthier status.Participants with deteriorated IC had a significantly higher risk of frailty, disability and dementia than people with high IC. There was strong concurrent and predictive validity. (Mortality Hazard Ratio = 4.60, 95%CI 4.16; 5.09; Harrel's C = 0.73 (95%CI 0.72;0.74)).

CONCLUSIONS

half of the study population had high IC at baseline, and most participants followed a worsening trend. Four qualitatively different IC statuses or statuses were characterised by low and high levels of deterioration associated with their risk of disability and frailty. Locomotion and cognition impairments showed other trends than psychological and nutrition domains across the latent statuses.

Investigating three ways of measuring the intrinsic capacity domain of vitality: nutritional status, handgrip strength and ageing biomarkers

BACKGROUND

Vitality is conceptually considered as the underlying capacity influencing other intrinsic capacity (IC) domains and being related to nutrition, physiological reserve and biological ageing. However, there is no consensus on its operationalisation.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the structure and magnitude of the association of vitality with other IC domains and functional difficulties using three operational definitions of vitality.

METHODS

We included 1,389 older adults from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial with data on Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), handgrip strength and plasma biomarkers (comprising inflammatory and mitochondrial markers). Using path analysis, we examined the effects of vitality on difficulties in basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL and IADL) exerted directly and indirectly through the mediation of other IC domains: cognition, locomotion, psychological, vision and hearing. We further explored the longitudinal association of vitality with IC domains, ADL and IADL over 4 years using linear mixed-effect regression.

RESULTS

We observed significant indirect effects of vitality on IADL, mainly through cognitive, locomotor and psychological domains, regardless of the vitality measurement. Participants with higher vitality had fewer IADL difficulties at follow-up (MNA score: β [95% CI] = -0.020 [-0.037, -0.003]; handgrip strength: -0.011 [-0.023, 0.000]; plasma biomarker-based index: -0.015 [-0.028, -0.002]). Vitality assessed with the plasma biomarker-based index predicted improved locomotion over time.

CONCLUSION

Vitality was associated with disability primarily through the mediation of other IC domains. The three indicators examined are acceptable measurements of vitality; biomarkers might be more suitable for the early detection of locomotion decline.

Associations between intrinsic capacity, functional difficulty, and fall outcomes among older adults in India

The construct of intrinsic capacity (IC) in the context of integrated care for older adults emphasizes functional assessment from a holistic perspective. It provides reliable and comparable insights on subsequent functioning and disability. Given the paucity of research on IC and health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the present study examined the association of IC with geriatric conditions of functional limitations and multiple fall outcomes among older adults in India. The data used for analysis come from the first wave of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), 2017-2018. The final sample size contains 24,136 older adults (11,871 males and 12,265 females) age 60 years or above. Multivariable binary logistic regression is employed to examine the association of IC and other explanatory factors with outcome variables of difficulty in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), falls, fall injury, and multiple falls. Of the total sample, 24.56% of older adults were observed to be in the high IC category. The prevalence of ADL difficulty, IADL difficulty, falls, multiple falls and fall-related injury is estimated to be 19.89%, 45.00%, 12.36%, 5.49% and 5.57%, respectively. Older adults who reported high IC had a significantly lower prevalence of ADL difficulty (12.26% vs 22.38%) and IADL difficulty (31.13% vs 49.52%) than those who reported low IC. Similarly, a lower prevalence of falls (9.42% vs 13.34%), fall-related injury (4.10% vs 6.06%) and multiple falls (3.46% vs 6.16%) were reported among those who had high IC. After adjusting for a large number of confounders such as age, sex, health-related attributes and lifestyle behaviors, older adults with high IC had significantly lower odds of ADL difficulty [aOR: 0.63, CI: 0.52-0.76], IADL difficulty [aOR: 0.71, CI: 0.60-0.83], falls [aOR: 0.80, CI: 0.67-0.96], multiple falls [aOR: 0.73, CI: 0.58-0.96] and fall-related injury [aOR: 0.78, CI: 0.61-0.99]. That a high IC was independently associated with a lower risk of functional difficulty and fall outcomes in later life is of enormous value in predicting subsequent functional care needs. More specifically, the findings here imply that because regular IC monitoring can predict poor health outcomes in older adults, improvements in IC should be prioritized while formulating disability and fall prevention strategies.

Healthy Ageing Should Be a Key Component of Ageing in Place: Case Study from Hong Kong

As part of a knowledge-transfer project consisting of a series of three talks on the topic of healthy ageing and ageing in place, we explored what participants (older adults, students, the general public, as well as professionals in architecture, urban planning and property management) consider to be key requirements for ageing in place and healthy ageing. Feedback is captured using survey questionnaires and a post-talk discussion group. Safety, a comfortable and spacious environment, age-friendly facilities and meeting the needs of older adults, the availability of caring support and home maintenance services were the most frequently mentioned desirable features of ageing in place. Future models for different types of support for ageing in place may be explored by management companies working with the residents themselves, to develop a sustainable business model.

The Association between Physical Activity and Intrinsic Capacity in Chinese Older Adults and Its Connection to Primary Care: China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS)

BACKGROUND

In 2015, intrinsic capacity (IC) was proposed by the WHO as a new measure for healthy aging. Evidence has shown that physical activity (PA) benefits the physical and mental health of older adults. However, the association between PA and IC among older adults was not well evaluated or reported. This study aims to investigate the association between PA and general and specific IC among Chinese older adults.

METHOD

The study included individuals aged 60 and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2015. The IC scores were constructed based on the WHO concept of five domains: psychological capacity, cognition, locomotion, vitality, and sensory abilities. Total PA and leisure PA were measured based on different activity purposes. Linear mixed-effects models and generalized linear mixed-effects models were developed to assess the associations between PA and IC.

RESULTS

A total of 3359 participants were included in this study. Older adults who reported some PA were associated with a higher composite IC score, with a mean difference of 0.14 (95% CI: 0.09-0.18, p < 0.001) compared to those who reported no PA. In terms of leisure PA, physically active adults had a higher composite IC score with a mean difference of 0.06 (95% CI: 0.03-0.09, p < 0.001). Older adults with a high level of leisure PA also had a significantly higher composite IC score (diff. in mean = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01-0.13, p < 0.05) compared to those with low-level leisure PA. In addition, PA was positively and significantly associated with three specific IC domains: locomotion, cognition, and vitality.

CONCLUSIONS

Improving both general and leisure PA can be an effective way to prevent the decline in IC among older adults, thus reducing the personal and public load of primary healthcare for aging countries such as China.

Measurements of Intrinsic Capacity in Older Adults: A Scoping Review and Quality Assessment

OBJECTIVES

This review summarizes the measurements of intrinsic capacity in 5 domains across different studies and evaluates the quality of research papers.

DESIGN

Scoping review of papers written in English and Chinese published in peer-reviewed journals.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The intrinsic capacity of older adults was assessed using the multidomain structure (Cognition, Locomotion, Psychological, Sensory and Vitality) proposed by the World Health Organization.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, and Web of Science for papers in English, and CNKI, CBM for papers written in Chinese published until September 13, 2022. Both cross-sectional and cohort studies of multidomain measurements of intrinsic capacity were included. Three independent reviewers appraised the quality of studies, and Cohen's kappa was calculated to determine interrater reliability. Data were listed by author, year, setting, country, age range and number of participants, measurement and calculation of intrinsic capacity, and data acquisition method.

RESULTS

We included 53 studies. Twenty-one studies were of high quality, 31 studies were of moderate quality, and 1 study was of low quality. Measurements of intrinsic capacity and derivation of the summative index score were heterogeneous. Intrinsic capacity was usually assessed in 4 or 5 domains. Sensory was the most frequently overlooked domain or subdivided into vision and hearing in some studies. Indicators of vitality were the most heterogeneous. We also found consistency in heterogeneous measurements. The most common measurements of cognition, locomotion, and psychological capacity were the Mini-Mental State Examination, Short Physical Performance Battery, and Geriatric Depression Scale respectively. Self-reported questionnaires were commonly adopted in sensory domain. The Mini-Nutritional Assessment and grip strength were the most measured indicators of vitality.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The focus on capacity and disease should be balanced to better promote healthy aging in older adults. Heterogeneity of intrinsic capacity measurements underscores the need for consensus about standardized measurements and calculation procedures.