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Physical and cognitive profiles in motoric cognitive risk syndrome in an older population from Southern Italy
Author(s) -
Bortone Ilaria,
Griseta Chiara,
Battista Petronilla,
Castellana Fabio,
Lampignano Luisa,
Zupo Roberta,
Sborgia Giancarlo,
Lozupone Madia,
Moretti Biagio,
Giannelli Gianluigi,
Sardone Rodolfo,
Panza Francesco
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/ene.14882
Subject(s) - cognition , medicine , population , confounding , confidence interval , cohort , cognitive test , cognitive decline , neuropsychology , recall , odds ratio , gerontology , dementia , physical medicine and rehabilitation , clinical psychology , psychiatry , psychology , disease , environmental health , cognitive psychology
Background and purpose In older age, physical and cognitive declines have been shown to occur simultaneously or consequent to one another, and several operational definitions have been proposed to consider the co‐presence of the two declines; for example, “Motoric cognitive risk syndrome” (MCR) has been proposed as a definition for the coexistence of slow gait plus subjective cognitive complaints. Given the increasing interest in MCR and its potential role as both biomarker and therapeutic target, we aimed to estimate its prevalence in a large cohort of non‐demented older subjects, and to examine the associations between physical status, global cognitive dysfunction, and impairment in various cognitive domains in MCR. Methods A population‐based sample of 1041 older people in Southern Italy (mean age 75.15 years) was enrolled. We defined MCR using slowness and a single question for subjective cognitive complaints. We also administered a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery, together with tests assessing physical function. Results The prevalence of MCR was 9.9% (95% confidence interval 8.2–11.9). MCR was associated with decreased processing speed and executive function after adjusting for all relevant confounders. However, we found no significant association of MCR with decreased global cognition and immediate/delayed free recall of verbal memory. MCR was also associated with increased exhaustion, low muscle strength, and low physical activity, and increased levels of C‐reactive protein and interleukin‐6. Conclusions The present findings on MCR prevalence and associated cognitive and physical domains and inflammatory biomarkers may help to uncover altered pathways and therapeutic targets for intervention during the long preclinical phase of neurodegenerative dementia.