Association Between Accelerometer-Assessed Physical Activity and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: Research suggests that physical activity (PA) improves cognitive function across various domains. However, the specific role of different PA measures, including step count, remains to be explored. Our aim was to assess the correlation between objectively measured PA and cognitive function. METHODS: We included 663 adults, aged ≥66 years, from the Swedish SNAC-K study (2016-2019). Global cognition and three cognitive domains (processing speed, executive function, and episodic memory) were assessed with validated tests. PA was measured through ActivPAL3 accelerometers. We applied age-stratified (<70 vs. ≥80 years), multi-adjusted, quantile regression to examine the cross-sectional associations between cognitive function and PA, considering steps/day and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). RESULTS: Each 1000-step increment (ß = 0.04; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.07) and each additional hour of MVPA per day (ß = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.54) were correlated with better processing speed in the youngest-old, but not in the oldest-old. When further stratifying by MVPA (<60 min vs. ≥60 min/week), each 1000-step increment was associated with better processing speed in the youngest-old, regardless of their MVPA levels. CONCLUSION: Our study links accelerometer-assessed PA (steps and MVPA) with better processing speed in the youngest-old adults. Step count correlated with processing speed regardless of intensity. Further research is needed to determine the directionality of these associations.

Sustained improvement of intrinsic capacity in community-dwelling older adults: The +AGIL Barcelona multidomain program.

BACKGROUND: Different programs promote healthy ageing through the optimization of intrinsic capacity. However, a major challenge is to assess their sustained effects over time. +AGIL Barcelona, a consolidated multidomain program, aims to optimize older adults' intrinsic capacity through a coordinated approach among primary care, geriatrics and community resources, in agreement with the integrated care for older people (ICOPE) guidelines. We aimed to evaluate the +AGIL Barcelona longitudinal effect on older adults' physical performance. METHODS: All +AGIL Barcelona consecutive participants since 2016 were enrolled. After a comprehensive geriatric assessment, a tailored, multidisciplinary intervention aligned with the ICOPE guidelines is offered. It includes a 10-week boost multicomponent exercise program, nutritional and sleep-hygiene counselling, revision and optimization of pharmacological treatments and screening for cognitive impairment, depression and loneliness. Changes in physical performance after 3 and 6 months were assessed using mixed models including baseline frailty degree, time and all potential significant confounders. RESULTS: We included 194 participants in the analysis (mean age = 81.6 [standard deviation = 5.8], 68% women). An independent, clinically and statistically significant improvement in physical performance (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB] test, combining gait speed, strength and balance) was found at 3 months (SPPB mean change: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.6) and 6 months (SPPB mean change: 1.1; 95% CI 0.8-1.5). Equivalent results were observed for all the SPPB sub-tests. CONCLUSIONS: A coordinated, multidisciplinary and integrated program can benefit older adults' intrinsic capacity. The participants' empowerment and the connection with the available community resources are critical points for a successful intervention.

Impact on physical function of the +AGIL Barcelona program in community-dwelling older adults with cognitive impairment: an interventional cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Older adults with cognitive impairment (CI) have higher multimorbidity and frailty prevalence, lower functional status and an increased likelihood to develop dementia, non-cognitive deficits, and adverse health-related events. +AGIL, a real-world program for frail older adults in a primary care area of Barcelona, is a pragmatic, multi-component and integrated intervention implemented since 2016. It includes physical activity, nutrition, sleep hygiene, revision and adequacy of pharmacological treatment, detection of undesired loneliness and screening for CI; to improve physical function in community-dwelling older adults. We aimed to assess the + AGIL longitudinal impact on physical function among community-dwelling frail older persons with CI. METHODS: An interventional cohort study included data from all the + AGIL consecutive participants from July 2016 until March 2020. Based on the comprehensive geriatric assessment, participants were offered a tailored multi-component community intervention, including a 10-week physical activity program led by an expert physical therapist. Physical performance was measured at baseline, three and six months follow-up. The pre-post impact on physical function was assessed by paired sample t-test for repeated samples. Linear mixed models were applied to analyze the + AGIL longitudinal impact. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: 194 participants were included (82 with CI, based on previous diagnosis or the Mini-COG screening tool), 68% women, mean age 81.6 (SD = 5.8) yo. Participants were mostly independent in Activities of Daily Living (mean Barthel = 92.4, SD = 11.1). The physical activity program showed high adherence (87.6% attended ≥ 75% sessions). At three months, there was a clinically and statistically significant improvement in the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and its subcomponents in the whole sample and after stratification for CI [CI group improvements: SPPB = 1.1 (SD = 1.8) points, gait speed (GS) = 0.05 (SD = 0.13) m/s, Chair stand test (CST)=-2.6 (SD = 11.4) s. Non-CI group improvements: SPPB = 1.6 (SD = 1.8) points, GS = 0.08 (SD = 0.13) m/s, CST=-6.4 (SD = 12.1) seg]. SPPB and gait speed remained stable at six months in the study sample and subgroups. CI had no significant impact on SPPB or GS improvements. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that older adults with CI can benefit from a multidisciplinary integrated and comprehensive geriatric intervention to improve physical function, a component of frailty.

Effectiveness of home-based exercise delivered by digital health in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: regular physical exercise is essential to maintain or improve functional capacity in older adults. Multimorbidity, functional limitation, social barriers and currently, coronavirus disease of 2019, among others, have increased the need for home-based exercise (HBE) programmes and digital health interventions (DHI). Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of HBE programs delivered by DHI on physical function, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) improvement and falls reduction in older adults. DESIGN: systematic review and meta-analysis. PARTICIPANTS: community-dwelling older adults over 65 years. INTERVENTION: exercises at home through DHI. OUTCOMES MEASURES: physical function, HRQoL and falls. RESULTS: twenty-six studies have met the inclusion criteria, including 5,133 participants (range age 69.5 ± 4.0-83.0 ± 6.7). The HBE programmes delivered with DHI improve muscular strength (five times sit-to-stand test, -0.56 s, 95% confidence interval, CI -1.00 to -0.11; P = 0.01), functional capacity (Barthel index, 5.01 points, 95% CI 0.24-9.79; P = 0.04) and HRQoL (SMD 0.18; 95% CI 0.05-0.30; P = 0.004); and reduce events of falls (odds ratio, OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.64-0.93; P = 0.008). In addition, in the subgroup analysis, older adults with diseases improve mobility (SMD -0.23; 95% CI -0.45 to -0.01; P = 0.04), and balance (SMD 0.28; 95% CI 0.09-0.48; P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: the HBE programmes carried out by DHI improve physical function in terms of lower extremity strength and functional capacity. It also significantly reduces the number of falls and improves the HRQoL. In addition, in analysis of only older adults with diseases, it also improves the balance and mobility.

Patterns of multimorbidity in primary care electronic health records: A systematic review.

Background: Multimorbidity, the coexistence of multiple chronic conditions in an individual, is a complex phenomenon that is highly prevalent in primary care settings, particularly in older individuals. This systematic review summarises the current evidence on multimorbidity patterns identified in primary care electronic health record (EHR) data. Methods: Three databases were searched from inception to April 2022 to identify studies that derived original multimorbidity patterns from primary care EHR data. The quality of the included studies was assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Results: Sixteen studies were included in this systematic review, none of which was of low quality. Most studies were conducted in Spain, and only one study was conducted outside of Europe. The prevalence of multimorbidity (i.e. two or more conditions) ranged from 14.0% to 93.9%. The most common stratification variable in disease clustering models was sex, followed by age and calendar year. Despite significant heterogeneity in clustering methods and disease classification tools, consistent patterns of multimorbidity emerged. Mental health and cardiovascular patterns were identified in all studies, often in combination with diseases of other organ systems (e.g. neurological, endocrine). Discussion: These findings emphasise the frequent coexistence of physical and mental health conditions in primary care, and provide useful information for the development of targeted preventive and management strategies. Future research should explore mechanisms underlying multimorbidity patterns, prioritise methodological harmonisation to facilitate the comparability of findings, and promote the use of EHR data globally to enhance our understanding of multimorbidity in more diverse populations.

Cognitive Profile and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in the older adults population and their specific impact on their cognitive profiles still requires further research. For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was carried out to describe the presence of CVRFs and their association with cognitive performance in a sample of older adults (65-85 years old) with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Participants (n = 185) were divided into three groups concerning their cardiovascular risk level determined by the presence of different CVRFs, including Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity. The primary outcome measures were the participant's scores in the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial data were collected. Non-parametrical statistical analyses and effect sizes were calculated. Findings revealed that a greater presence of CVRFs was not associated with a worse overall cognitive performance. High-risk patients were more likely to have significantly worse performance in the attentional domain compared to medium-risk (p = 0.029, r = 0.42) and compared to low-risk (p = 0.041, r = 0.35), specifically in the digits repetition subtest (p = 0.042). T2D alone was the CVRF associated with cognitive differences (p = 0.037, r = 0.32), possibly mediated by the duration of the condition. Consequently, a higher presence of CVRFs did not lead to a worse overall cognitive performance. However, high-risk individuals were more likely to experience cognitive impairment, particularly in the attentional domain. T2D played a significant role in these cognitive profile differences, possibly influenced by its duration.

Physical activity and exercise for the prevention and management of mild cognitive impairment and dementia: a collaborative international guideline.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity and exercise have been suggested as effective interventions for the prevention and management of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, but there are no international guidelines. OBJECTIVES: To create a set of evidence- and expert consensus-based prevention and management recommendations regarding physical activity (any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure) and exercise (a subset of physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive), applicable to a range of individuals from healthy older adults to those with MCI/dementia. METHODS: Guideline content was developed with input from several scientific and lay representatives' societies. A systematic search across multidisciplinary databases was carried out until October 2021. Recommendations for prevention and management were developed according to the GRADE and complemented by consensus statements from the expert panels. RECOMMENDATIONS: Physical activity may be considered for the primary prevention of dementia. In people with MCI there is continued uncertainty about the role of physical activity in slowing the conversion to dementia. Mind-body interventions have the greatest supporting evidence. In people with moderate dementia, exercise may be used for maintaining disability and cognition. All these recommendations were based on a very low/low certainty of evidence. CONCLUSIONS: Although the scientific evidence on the beneficial role of physical activity and exercise in preserving cognitive functions in subjects with normal cognition, MCI or dementia is inconclusive, this panel, composed of scientific societies and other stakeholders, recommends their implementation based on their beneficial effects on almost all facets of health.

Dual-task related frontal cerebral blood flow changes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A functional diffuse correlation spectroscopy study.

Introduction: In a worldwide aging population with a high prevalence of motor and cognitive impairment, it is paramount to improve knowledge about underlying mechanisms of motor and cognitive function and their interplay in the aging processes. Methods: We measured prefrontal cerebral blood flow (CBF) using functional diffuse correlation spectroscopy during motor and dual-task. We aimed to compare CBF changes among 49 older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) during a dual-task paradigm (normal walk, 2- forward count walk, 3-backward count walk, obstacle negotiation, and heel tapping). Participants with MCI walked slower during the normal walk and obstacle negotiation compared to participants with normal cognition (NC), while gait speed during counting conditions was not different between the groups, therefore the dual-task cost was higher for participants with NC. We built a linear mixed effects model with CBF measures from the right and left prefrontal cortex. Results: MCI (n = 34) showed a higher increase in CBF from the normal walk to the 2-forward count walk (estimate = 0.34, 95% CI [0.02, 0.66], p = 0.03) compared to participants with NC, related to a right- sided activation. Both groups showed a higher CBF during the 3-backward count walk compared to the normal walk, while only among MCI, CFB was higher during the 2-forward count walk. Discussion: Our findings suggest a differential prefrontal hemodynamic pattern in older adults with MCI compared to their NC counterparts during the dual-task performance, possibly as a response to increasing attentional demand.

Depressive Symptoms, Fatigue and Social Relationships Influenced Physical Activity in Frail Older Community-Dwellers during the Spanish Lockdown due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Due to the dramatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Spain underwent a strict lockdown (March-May 2020). How the lockdown modified older adults' physical activity (PA) has been poorly described. This research assesses the effect of the lockdown on PA levels and identifies predictors of sufficient/insufficient PA in frail older community-dwellers. Community-dwelling participants from the +ÀGIL Barcelona frailty intervention program, suspended during the pandemic, underwent a phone-assessment during the lockdown. PA was measured before and after the lockdown using the Brief Physical Activity Assessment Tool (BPAAT). We included 98 frail older adults free of COVID-19 (mean age = 82.7 years, 66.3% women, mean Short Physical Performance Battery = 8.1 points). About one third of participants (32.2%) were not meeting sufficient PA levels at the end of the lockdown. Depressive symptoms (OR = 0.12, CI95% = 0.02-0.55) and fatigue (OR = 0.11, CI95% = 0.03-0.44) decreased the odds of maintaining sufficient PA, whereas maintaining social networks (OR = 5.07, CI95% = 1.60-16.08) and reading (OR = 6.29, CI95% = 1.66-23.90) increased it. Living alone was associated with the reduction of PA levels (b = -1.30, CI95% = -2.14--0.46). In our sample, pre-lockdown mental health, frailty-related symptoms and social relationships were consistently associated with both PA levels during-lockdown and pre-post change. These data suggest considering specific plans to maintain PA levels in frail older community-dwellers.

How a Barcelona Post-Acute Facility became a Referral Center for Comprehensive Management of Subacute Patients With COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic's greatest impact is among older adults. Management of the situation requires a systemic response, and post-acute care (PAC) can provide an adequate mix of active treatment, management of associated geriatric syndromes and palliative care, both in the acute phase, and in post-COVID-19 recovery. In the region of Catalonia, Spain, selected PAC centers have become sites to treat older patients with COVID-19. Referrals come from the emergency department or COVID-19 wards of the acute reference hospitals, nursing homes, or private homes. We critically review the actions taken by Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, a PAC facility in Barcelona, to manage the pandemic, including its administration, health care, communication, psychological support, and ethical frameworks. We believe that the strategies we used and the lessons we learned can be useful for other sites and countries where similar adaptation of existing facilities may be implemented.