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2D:4D digit ratio is associated with cognitive decline but not frailty in community‐dwelling older adults
Author(s) -
Gonçalves Celina,
Coelho Tiago,
Machado Sérgio,
Rocha Nuno Barbosa
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.23003
Subject(s) - gerontology , digit ratio , frailty index , cognition , barthel index , cognitive decline , medicine , activities of daily living , psychology , testosterone (patch) , physical therapy , dementia , psychiatry , disease , pathology
Objectives To understand the relation between 2D:4D ratio, frailty, and cognitive decline in community‐dwelling elderly people. Methods A total of 175 community‐dwelling elderly people were included. To determine frailty, participants completed the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE‐FI). Cognitive functioning was determined using the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). 2D and 4D finger lengths of each hand were measured using a scanner. Barthel Index, Lawton, and Brody scale were also completed for each participant to determine the level of daily living functioning. Results We did not find any correlations between 2D:4D ratio and frailty measures. We found a significant correlation between 2D:4D ratio and MMSE scores in the women sampled. Conclusions We cannot ascertain any contribution of prenatal exposure to androgens to the frailty status of community‐dwelling elderly people. We found that reduced prenatal exposure to testosterone in women may contribute to the prevention of cognitive decline in elderly women.