Functional mobility decline and incident mild cognitive impairment and early dementia in community-dwelling older adults: the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study

Background: Motor and gait disturbances are evident in early Alzheimer and non-Alzheimer dementias and may predict the likelihood of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or progression to dementia. Objective: We investigated the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) measure of functional mobility in predicting cognitive decline and incident MCI or early dementia (MCI-dementia). Design: Prospective cohort study with 4.5 years follow-up. Setting: Population based. Participants: 2,544 community-dwelling older adults aged 55+ years. Methods: Participants with baseline data on TUG, fast gait speed (GS), knee extension strength (KES) and performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA) gait and balance were followed up for cognitive decline (Mini-Mental State Exam; MMSE drop of >= 2, among 1,336 dementia-free participants) and incident MCI-dementia (among 1,208 cognitively normal participants). Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking, physical, social and productive activity, multi-morbidity, metabolic syndrome and MMSE. Results: Per standard deviation increase in TUG, POMA, GS and KES were significantly associated with incident MCI-dementia: TUG (OR= 2.84, 95% CI = 2.02-3.99), GS (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.62-2.91), POMA (OR =1.88, 95% CI = 1.22-2.92) and KES (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.15-2.02). Adjusted OR remained significant only for TUG (OR = 1.52, 95% CI =1.01-2.31) and GS (OR= 1.53, 95% CI =1.08-2.16). Areas under the curve (AUC) for TUG (AUC = 0.729, 95% CI = 0.671-0.787) were significantly greater than GS (AUC = 0.683, 95% CI = 0.619-0.746), KES (AUC = 0.624, 95% CI = 0.558-0.689) and POMA (AUC = 0.561, 95% CI = 0.485-0.637). Similar associations with cognitive decline were significant though less pronounced, and adjusted ORs remained significant for TUG, GS and POMA. Conclusion: Functional mobility decline precedes incident MCI and early dementia. The TUG appears to be especially accurate in predicting the future risks of adverse cognitive outcomes.

Automated summary

The decline in functional mobility predicts cognitive decline and the occurrence of MCI or early dementia. Among the measures studied, the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test appears to be particularly accurate in predicting the future risks of adverse cognitive outcomes.