Increased Social Support Reduces the Incidence of Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome

Multi-trajectories in different domains of social supports and subjective motoric cognitive risk syndrome: a 16-year group-based multi-trajectory analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal relationships between the trajectories of distinct subtypes of various domains of social supports and risk of subjective motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome.

DESIGN

Longitudinal cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

2,279 participants in the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA) between 1999 and 2011.

METHOD

A group-based multi-trajectory modeling (GBMTM) was implemented to identify distinct trajectory subtypes within various social support domains, encompassing social networks, emotional support, instrumental support, as well as working and economic status. Logistic regression models were then utilized to evaluate the associations between these trajectory subtypes and the risk of subjective MCR.

RESULTS

Among 2,279 participants, GBMTM identified four distinct trajectory subtypes: "low social support" (n = 371), "medium social support " (n = 862), "high social support" (n = 292), and "high social support with employment" (n = 754). The incidence rates of subjective MCR for these groups were 9.4%, 9.0%, 4.1%, and 0.8%, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, education level, and comorbidities, both "low social support" (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.07, 95% CI [1.60-10.34]) and "medium social support" (aOR 3.10, 95% CI [1.26-7.66]) were significantly associated with an increased risk of subjective MCR compared to the "high social support with employment" group.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The current study demonstrates that social support significantly reduces the risk of subjective MCR, with lower support levels correlating to higher risk, necessitating further intervention studies to confirm the link between social support and risk of subjective MCR.

The associations of daytime napping and motoric cognitive risk syndrome: Findings from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

INTRODUCTION

Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), characterized by subjective cognitive complaints and slow gait in older populations, is associated with sleep duration. However, the association between MCR and daytime nap duration has not been thoroughly explored.

METHODS

Baseline data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were used in this study. MCR was defined as the coexistence of subjective cognitive complaints and objective slow gait speed without a history of dementia or mobility disability. Daytime nap duration was categorized into four groups: no napping, short napping (<30 min), moderate napping (30-89 min) and extended napping (≥90 min). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore the association of daytime napping duration and MCR.

RESULTS

A total of 4230 individuals aged ≥60 were included in the current analysis, of which 463 were diagnosed with MCR. Moderate napping of 30-89 min per day was found to be significantly associated with lower odds of MCR compared with the reference group of no napping. In subgroup analysis, individuals with sleep durations of <7 h per night had lower odds of MCR in the model that adjusted for all potential confounders with ≥30 min daytime nap duration compared with no napping. Interestingly, for people with a night sleep duration of 7-8 h, only those with a moderate nap of 30-89 min had lower odds of MCR than non-nappers after adjustment for potential confounders.

CONCLUSION

A moderate nap of 30-89 min could lower the odds of MCR, especially for older adults with a night sleep duration of ≤8 h.

Social frailty and the incidence of motoric cognitive risk syndrome in older adults

INTRODUCTION

Various associations between social factors and motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) have been reported. However, whether social frailty (integrated from multiple social factors) is associated with MCR is still unclear.

METHODS

We included 4657 individuals without MCR at Round 1 of the NHATS as the discovery sample, and 3075 newly recruited individuals from Round 5 of the NHATS as the independent validation sample. Social frailty was assessed by five social items. MCR was defined as the presence of both subjective cognitive complaints and slow gait speed in individuals without dementia or mobility disability.

RESULTS

Compared with normal individuals, those with social frailty had higher risk of incident MCR (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34-1.84). Each additional unfavorable social item was associated with an increased risk of MCR (HR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.22-1.43).

DISCUSSION

Social frailty was associated with an increased risk of incident MCR in older adults.

HIGHLIGHTS

Various associations between social factors and motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) have been reported. Social frailty that integrated from multiple social factors was associated with an increased risk of incident MCR. Social frailty should be included in the early screening of individuals to identify those at higher risk of MCR.

Association between Perceived Stress and Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome in an Elderly Population: Rugao Longevity and Aging Study

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies have indicated a correlation between perceived stress and cognitive decline. However, it remains unknown whether high levels of perceived stress can result in motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome. This study investigated the relationship between perceived stress and MCR in a community-based population.

METHODS

The study cohort comprised 852 elderly individuals from the Rugao Longitudinal Aging Cohort. Perceived stress was assessed using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), while MCR was defined as the coexistence of subjective memory complaints (SMCs) and slow gait speed.

RESULTS

The average age of the study participants is 79.84 ± 4.34 years. The mean score of PSS-10 among participants is 10.32 (range = 0-33; [SD] = 5.71), with a median score of 10.00 (6.00, 14.00). The prevalence of MCR is 9.3%. In the logistic regression analysis, for each 1-SD (5.71) increase in the global PSS-10 score, the risk of MCR increased by 40% (95% CI 1.09-1.80). Additionally, in the aspect of two components of MCR, with a 1-SD increase (5.71) in the global PSS-10 score, there was a 50% (95% CI 1.29-1.75) increase in the risk of SMCs and a 27% (95% CI 1.04-1.55) increase in the risk of slow gait speed. In terms of specific walking speed, there was a reverse correlation between the global PSS-10 score and walking speed (r = -0.14, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided preliminary evidence that high levels of perceived stress were associated with the risk of MCR in a community-dwelling population.

Prodromal Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome and Everyday Function

BACKGROUND

Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), a pre-dementia syndrome characterized by subjective cognitive complaints and slow gait, is associated with disability in instrumental activities of daily living. It is unknown whether these functional limitations occur even before this pre-dementia syndrome is diagnosed.

OBJECTIVE

To assess profiles of complex and instrumental activities of daily living in the prodromal stages of MCR.

METHODS

We examined functional profiles in 46 older adults (mean age 79 years, 59% women) living in the community with normal cognition at baseline who developed MCR over follow-up ('pre-MCR') with 264 older adults (mean age 75 years, 57% women) who remained cognitively intact over the follow-up period.

RESULTS

Pre-MCR individuals had more limitations on complex everyday function at baseline compared to normal controls in multivariable logistic regression models (odds ratio 1.21). Pre-MCR cases at baseline had limitations in handling finances (odds ratio 3.0) and performing hobbies (odds ratio 5.5) as compared to normal controls. Pre-MCR cases had a greater difference in the number of complex functional limitations from baseline to MCR compared to the difference from baseline to final visit for the controls (1.2±3.0 versus 0.5±2.2, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Limitations in complex everyday tasks arise in the prodromal stages of MCR and can assist in risk prognostication.