Instruments for measuring the neuromuscular function domain of vitality capacity in older persons: an umbrella review.

PURPOSE: Recently, handgrip, knee extensor and respiratory muscle strength were proposed as candidate biomarkers to assess the neuromuscular function of vitality capacity in older persons. This umbrella review aims to provide an overview of the available instruments and their measurement properties to assess these biomarkers. METHODS: The databases PubMed, Web of Science and Embase were systematically screened for systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting on handgrip, knee extensor or respiratory muscle strength assessments, resulting in 7,555 articles. The COSMIN checklist was used to appraise psychometric properties and the AMSTAR for assessing methodological quality. RESULTS: Twenty-seven systematic reviews were included in this study. Some of the identified reviews described the psychometric properties of the assessment tools. We found five assessment tools that can be used to measure neuromuscular function in the context of healthy ageing. Those are the handheld dynamometer for handgrip strength, the dynamometer for knee extensor strength and regarding respiratory muscle strength, the sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). CONCLUSION: The handheld dynamometer for hand grip strength, the dynamometer for knee extensor strength, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, MIP and MEP were identified. Therefore, these assessments could be used to identify community-dwelling older adults at risk for a declined neuromuscular function in the context of vitality capacity.

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.

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".

Dietary patterns and intrinsic capacity in older adults: a 6-year prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Only a few studies have investigated dietary patterns and intrinsic capacity (IC). This study examined the prospective associations between dietary patterns, IC, and IC sub-domains over 6 years in community-dwelling Korean older adults. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Data were obtained from participants aged 70-84 years in the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (2016-2022). The study population included 665 enrollees at baseline who completed IC and dietary data. METHODS: Dietary data were obtained from baseline surveys of the nutritional sub-cohort using two nonconsecutive 24-hour dietary recalls, and dietary patterns were derived using cluster analysis. IC was constructed by measuring cognitive, locomotor, vitality, sensory, and psychological domains. A generalized estimating equation was used to analyze the longitudinal associations between dietary patterns, IC, and IC sub-domain scores. RESULTS: In total, 665 enrollees were included in the analysis. After adjusting for confounders, in older men, the dietary pattern of cluster 1 (variety of healthy foods and alcohols) compared to that of cluster 2 (rice and kimchi) was positively associated with changes in the IC score (ß = 0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.04-0.78). In older women, the dietary pattern of cluster 1 (variety of healthy foods) was positively associated with changes in the IC score (ß = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.02-0.58), IC score group (ß = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.02-0.20), and psychological domain (ß = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.11-0.38) compared to that of cluster 3 (rice, vegetables, and kimchi). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary patterns (variety of healthy foods) were positively associated with changes in IC scores and their sub-domains in older adults.

Predictive Validity of Intrinsic Capacity Composite Scores for Risk of Frailty at 2 Years: A Comparison of 4 Scales.

OBJECTIVE: Intrinsic capacity (IC) and frailty are complementary constructs that encapsulate functional capacities of older adults. Although earlier studies suggest the utility of composite IC scores in predicting risk of frailty, key gaps remain with the lack of direct comparative studies between different IC scales and lack of a composite score based on the World Health Organization Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) tool. We aimed to compare different IC scales, including an ICOPE-based scale, in their predictive ability for risk of frailty at 2 years in healthy community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 230 participants (age: 67.2 ± 7.4 years) from the GeriLABS-2 cohort study. METHODS: We derived composite scores by summing 4 IC domains (locomotion, cognition, vitality, and psychological). We compared composite scores of 4 scales: IC1-Chew 2021, range: 0-8; IC2-Liu 2021, range: 0-4; IC3-ICOPE, range: 0-4; IC4-modified ICOPE, range: 0-8. The primary outcome was risk of frailty using the modified Fried Frailty Phenotype. We performed logistic regression to examine the association of baseline composite IC with risk of frailty. We also examined the impact of individual domains and number of impaired domains on risk of frailty. RESULTS: Among 193 (83.9%) older adults who completed 2-year follow-up, 20 (10.4%) met criteria for risk of frailty. When adjusted for covariates, 2-point per domain scales (IC1/IC4) predicted increased risk of frailty (OR, 4.31; 95% CI, 1.55-11.96; OR, 5.00; 95% CI, 1.75-14.26). When further adjusted for baseline frailty, only IC4 remained significant (OR, 4.28; 95% CI, 1.45-12.60). Among the domains, impaired locomotion and vitality were associated with risk of frailty. Greater number of impaired domains predicted increased risk of frailty (IC1/IC2: ß = 0.18-0.19, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Baseline composite IC score using 2-point per domain scales better predicted risk of frailty at 2 years, predicated on impaired locomotion/vitality and greater number of impaired domains. For early identification of healthy older adults at risk of frailty, an ICOPE-based scale should be considered, as it is effective and accessible.

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 (ß: -0.70, p = 0.014) and lower DSST (ß: -7.00, p = 0.010) in those aged 50-64 years. Moreover, possible sarcopenia was associated with lower CVLT-SF (total score ß:-1.90, p = 0.028), lower DSST (ß: -6.45, p < 0.001), and lower VF (ß: -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.

Association of intrinsic capacity and medication non-adherence among older adults with non-communicable diseases in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: Medication non-adherence among older adults with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remains prevalent worldwide, which causes hospitalization and mortality. Our study aimed to examine the association of medication non-adherence with level of overall intrinsic capacity (IC), pattern of IC, and specific IC component among older adults with NCDs. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey of 1268 older adults aged 60 years and above was conducted in 2022 in southern Taiwan. Among them, 894 suffered from 1 more NCD were included in this study. The Integrated Care for Older People Screening Tool for Taiwanese and the Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale were used to assess IC and medication non-adherence, respectively. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify patterns of IC impairment, and binary logistic regression was used to assess the association between medication non-adherence and IC. RESULTS: Older adults in the moderate (score: 1-2) or low (score≧3) overall IC groups were more likely to experience medication non-adherence (moderate: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.57 [95% CI: 1.05-2.36]; low: 2.26 [1.40-3.67]). The "physical and nutritional impairments accompanied by depressive symptoms" group was associated with statistically higher odds of medication non-adherence (aOR 1.66 [1.01-2.73]). Older adults with cognitive impairment, hearing loss, or depressive symptoms showed greater likelihood of medication non-adherence (cognitive impairment: aOR 1.53 [1.03-2.27]; hearing loss: aOR 1.57 [1.03-2.37]; depressive symptoms: aOR 1.81 [1.17-2.80]). CONCLUSIONS: Intervention for improving medication non-adherence among older adults with NCDs should consider IC.

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.

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.

Intrinsic capacity and survival among older adults with gastrointestinal malignancies: The Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation registry.

BACKGROUND: Intrinsic capacity (IC) was introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a marker of healthy aging, and is defined as the combination of an individual's physical, mental, and psychological capacities. This study aimed to assess IC via a patient-reported geriatric assessment (GA) and evaluate its association with survival among older adults with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. METHODS: Data were used from a single-institution prospective registry of older adults undergoing GA before cancer therapy. Key domains of IC (vitality, locomotion, and sensory [hearing and visual], psychological, and cognitive capacities) were captured via GA, and each was given a score of 0 or 1 (0, impaired) to compute the total IC score (range, 0-6, where 6 indicates no impairment and ≤5 indicates impairment in ≥1 domains). A frailty index (FI) was measured via the deficit accumulation method. Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to examine the impact of IC impairment on survival. RESULTS: The study included 665 patients; the median age was 68 years, 57.4% were men, and 72.9% were White. The median IC score was 4, and 79.3% of participants showed impairment in ≥1 domains of IC. Most commonly impaired domains were locomotion (48.7%) and vitality (43.9%). IC was inversely associated with FI (Spearman coefficient, -0.75; p < .001). IC impairment was associated with inferior overall survival (score, 4-5: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.7; 95% CI, 1.11-2.48; score, 2-3: aHR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.30-2.85; score, 0-1: aHR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.11-2.48). CONCLUSIONS: IC impairment is associated with frailty and reduced overall survival in older patients with GI malignancies. GA can be used to screen for IC impairment as recommended by the WHO. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: The World Health Organization introduced intrinsic capacity as a marker of healthy aging. Intrinsic capacity is the combination of an individual's physical, mental, and psychological capacities. It contains six key domains: vitality, locomotion, and sensory (hearing and visual), psychological, and cognitive capacities. Older adults with cancer are susceptible to a decrease in intrinsic capacity as a result of cancer and the aging process. In this study, we aimed to assess the intrinsic capacity for patients with gastrointestinal cancer and also identify whether there exists any association of intrinsic capacity with overall survival. We identified that approximately 80% of this population had one or more impaired domains, and more intrinsic capacity impairment was associated with reduced overall survival.

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.

The assessment and detection rate of intrinsic capacity deficits among older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Assessing and monitoring intrinsic capacity (IC) is an effective strategy to promote healthy ageing by intervening early in high-risk populations. This review systematically analyzed the global detection rates of IC deficits and explored variations across diverse populations and data collection methods. METHODS: This study was preregistered with PROSPERO, CRD42023477315. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we systematically searched ten databases from January 2015 to October 2023, for peer-reviewed, observational studies or baseline survey of trials that assessed IC deficits among older adults aged 50 and above globally following the condition, context and population approach. The main outcome was intrinsic capacity deficits which could be assessed by any tools. Meta-analyses were performed by a random-effect model to pool the detection rates across studies and subgroup analyses were conducted by populations and data collection methods. RESULTS: Fifty-six studies conducted in 13 countries were included in the review and 44 studies with detection rates of IC were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled detection rate of IC deficits was 72.0% (65.2%-78.8%) and deficits were most detected in sensory (49.3%), followed by locomotion (40.0%), cognition (33.1%), psychology (21.9%), and vitality (20.1%). Variations in detection rates of IC deficits were observed across studies, with higher rates observed in low- and middle-income countries (74.0%) and hyper-aged societies (85.0%). Study population and measurement tools also explained the high heterogeneity across studies. CONCLUSION: IC deficits are common among older adults, while heterogeneity exists across populations and by measurement. Early monitoring with standardized tools and early intervention on specific subdomains of IC deficits are greatly needed for effective strategies to promote healthy ageing.

Trajectory of intrinsic capacity among community-dwelling older adults in China: The China health and retirement longitudinal study.

BACKGROUNDS: Intrinsic capacity (IC), the sum of individual mental and physical capabilities, as well as living environment and behavior, jointly determine the functional ability of older adults, shifting the focus from disease to function. At the population level, IC in older adults is associated with adverse health outcomes, such as disability, falls, and death. At the individual level, IC changes dynamically. However, studies on the longitudinal IC trajectory and the factors influencing IC deterioration are limited. We aimed to analyze the IC trajectory and explore the risk factors for IC deterioration in Chinese older adults. METHODS: Data were obtained from the baseline (2011-2012) and 4-year follow-up (2015) CHARLS surveys, including 1906 people aged 60 years and older. IC comprises six dimensions: locomotion, vitality, hearing, vision, cognition, and psychology. IC trajectory was categorized into three groups: improved, maintained, and deteriorated. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze factors influencing the trajectory of IC deterioration. RESULTS: After 4 years, 32.1 % had deteriorated, 38.5 % remained stable, and 29.4 % had improved. Age, low level of education, widowed were independently associated with IC deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic IC monitoring supports the development of individualized intervention policies to delay or prevent IC deterioration.

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.

Safeguarding vitality and cognition: The role of sarcopenia in intrinsic capacity decline among octogenarians from multiple cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia and intrinsic capacity (IC) declines pose significant challenges to healthy aging, particularly in the rapidly growing octogenarian population. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between sarcopenia and declines in IC across multiple cohorts of community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Data from four Taiwanese cohorts were analyzed. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria (algorithm 1: categorized as either having possible sarcopenia or not (robust); algorithm 2: categorized as robust, possible sarcopenia or sarcopenia). IC was operationalized using the World Health Organization's Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) framework (step 1 and step 2), encompassing six domains: locomotion, vitality, vision, hearing, cognition, and psychological well-being. Multivariable logistic regression models were adopted to assess the association between sarcopenia and IC decline. RESULTS: Among 599 octogenarians (median age 82.2 years, 54.8% male), the prevalence of possible sarcopenia (algorithm 1) was 64.6%. When adopting algorithm 2, the prevalence of possible sarcopenia and sarcopenia was 46,2% and 32.1%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, participants with possible sarcopenia or sarcopenia (algorithm 2) were more likely to exhibit declines in vitality (ICOPE Step 1: possible sarcopenia aOR 3.65, sarcopenia aOR 4.74; ICOPE Step 2: possible sarcopenia aOR 5.11, sarcopenia aOR 14.77) and cognition (ICOPE Step 1: possible sarcopenia aOR 2.40, sarcopenia aOR 2.12; ICOPE Step 2: possible sarcopenia aOR 2.02, sarcopenia aOR 2.51) compared to robust individuals. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the robust association between sarcopenia and declines in vitality and cognition among octogenarians, highlighting the importance of sarcopenia screening and management in promoting healthy longevity in this vulnerable population.

Predictive Capacity of the Integrated Care for Older People Screening Tool for Intrinsic Capacity Impairments: Results From the INSPIRE-T Cohort.

BACKGROUND: The Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) approach was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) aiming to shift the traditional focus of care based on diseases to a function- and person-centered approach, focused on maintaining and monitoring intrinsic capacity (IC). This study aimed to investigate the ability of the ICOPE screening tool to identify older people with clinically meaningful impairments in IC domains. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis included 603 older adults, participants (mean age 74.7 [SD = 8.8] years, women 59.0%) of the INSPIRE Translational (INSPIRE-T) cohort. Responses at screening were compared to results of the subsequent in-depth assessment (ie, Mini-Mental State Examination, Mini Nutritional Assessment, Short Physical Performance Battery, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and clinical investigation of vision problems) to determine its predictive capacity for impairments at the IC domains (ie, cognition, psychological, sensory (vision), vitality, and locomotion). RESULTS: The ICOPE screening items provided very high sensitivity for identifying abnormality in vision (97.2%) and varied from 42.0% to 69.6% for the other domains. High specificity (>70%) was observed for all the IC domains, except for vision (2.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The ICOPE screening tool can be a useful instrument enabling the identification of older people with impairments in IC domains, but studies with different populations are needed. It should be considered as a low-cost and simple screening tool in clinical care.

Intrinsic capacity and frailty in older adults with end-stage kidney disease undergoing pre-kidney transplant comprehensive geriatric assessment.

OBJECTIVE: Frailty has been extensively studied in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and kidney transplant (KT) patients. The identification of frailty is useful to predict adverse outcomes among ESKD and KT patients. The recent concept of intrinsic capacity (IC) appears as a good and easy-to-understand tool to screen for and monitor frailty in older adults with ESKD. This study aims to assess the relationships between frailty and IC in older adults with ESKD awaiting KT. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 236 patients from a day-care geriatric unit undergoing pre-KT geriatric assessment between 2017 and 2022 were included in the main sample, and 151 patients in an independent multicentric replication sample. MEASUREMENTS: Frailty was evaluated using the physical frailty phenotype (PFP) and IC measures using the World Health Organization's screening (step 1) and diagnostic (step 2) tools for five IC domains (vitality, locomotion, audition, cognition, psychology). Multivariate regressions were run to assess relationships between PFP and IC domains, adjusted for age, sex, and comorbidities. Analyses were replicated using another independent multicenter cohort including 151 patients with ESKD to confirm the results. RESULTS: Impairments in the locomotion, psychology, and vitality IC domains according to WHO screening tools were associated with frailty (odds ratio 9.62 [95% CI 4.09-24.99], 3.19 [95% CI 1.11-8.88], and 3.11 [95% CI 1.32-7.29], respectively). When IC were measured linearly with z-scores, all IC domains except hearing were inversely associated with frailty. In the replication cohort, results were overall similar, with a greater association between psychology domain and frailty. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the relationship between frailty and IC in ESKD patients. We assume that IC may be assessed and monitored in ESKD patients, to predict and prevent future frailty, and post-KT adverse outcomes.

Intrinsic capacity assessment using World Health Organization Integrated Care for Older People Step 1, and the association with frailty in community dwelling older adults.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the association between intrinsic capacity (IC) and frailty in community-dwelling older adults. Specifically, we examined the utility of the World Health Organization's Integrated Care for Older People Step 1 screen for identifying frail older persons in the community. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis of a community frailty screening initiative. IC loss was ascertained using the World Health Organization's Integrated Care for Older People Step 1 questions. The Clinical Frailty Scale was used to categorize participants as robust (Clinical Frailty Scale S1-3) or frail (Clinical Frailty Scale ≥4). Logistic regression was used to analyze the association of individual and cumulative IC losses with frailty, adjusting for confounders. Additionally, the diagnostic performance of using cumulative IC losses to identify frailty was assessed. RESULTS: This study included 1164 participants (28.2% frail). Loss in locomotion (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.47, 95% CI 1.07-2.02), vitality (AOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.04-2.39), sensory (AOR 1.99, 95% CI 1.51-2.64) and psychological capacities (AOR 1.92, 95% CI 1.45-2.56) were significantly associated with frailty. Loss in more than three IC domains was associated with frailty. Using loss in at least three ICs identifies frailty, with sensitivity of 38.6%, specificity of 83.5% and positive predictive value of 47.4%. Using loss in at least four ICs improved specificity to 96.9%, and is associated with the highest positive predictive value of 57.6% and highest positive likelihood ratio of 3.55 for frailty among all cut-off values. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.64 (95% CI 0.61-0.68). CONCLUSIONS: IC loss as identified through World Health Organization's Integrated Care for Older People Step 1 is associated with frailty community-dwelling older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 457-463.

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.

A State-of-the-Art of Exoskeletons in Line with the WHO's Vision on Healthy Aging: From Rehabilitation of Intrinsic Capacities to Augmentation of Functional Abilities.

The global aging population faces significant health challenges, including an increasing vulnerability to disability due to natural aging processes. Wearable lower limb exoskeletons (LLEs) have emerged as a promising solution to enhance physical function in older individuals. This systematic review synthesizes the use of LLEs in alignment with the WHO's healthy aging vision, examining their impact on intrinsic capacities and functional abilities. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in six databases, yielding 36 relevant articles covering older adults (65+) with various health conditions, including sarcopenia, stroke, Parkinson's Disease, osteoarthritis, and more. The interventions, spanning one to forty sessions, utilized a range of LLE technologies such as Ekso®, HAL®, Stride Management Assist®, Honda Walking Assist®, Lokomat®, Walkbot®, Healbot®, Keeogo Rehab®, EX1®, overground wearable exoskeletons, Eksoband®, powered ankle-foot orthoses, HAL® lumbar type, Human Body Posturizer®, Gait Enhancing and Motivation System®, soft robotic suits, and active pelvis orthoses. The findings revealed substantial positive outcomes across diverse health conditions. LLE training led to improvements in key performance indicators, such as the 10 Meter Walk Test, Five Times Sit-to-Stand test, Timed Up and Go test, and more. Additionally, enhancements were observed in gait quality, joint mobility, muscle strength, and balance. These improvements were accompanied by reductions in sedentary behavior, pain perception, muscle exertion, and metabolic cost while walking. While longer intervention durations can aid in the rehabilitation of intrinsic capacities, even the instantaneous augmentation of functional abilities can be observed in a single session. In summary, this review demonstrates consistent and significant enhancements in critical parameters across a broad spectrum of health conditions following LLE interventions in older adults. These findings underscore the potential of LLE in promoting healthy aging and enhancing the well-being of older adults.