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Cerebral microbleeds are associated with physical frailty: a community-based study
Chih-Ping Chung1, Kun-Hsien Chou2, Wei-Ta Chen3
1Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract:
The present study aimed to evaluate whether cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), as a presentation of cerebral small vessel diseases (CSVDs), are associated with physical frailty. This is a cross-sectional evaluation in participants from a community-based study, the I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study. The physical frail status was evaluated using the Cardiovascular Health Study score, which includes components of weakness, low physical activity, slowness, exhaustion, and weight loss. The CMBs were assessed with magnetic resonance imaging using susceptibility-weighted imaging. Of the 962 subjects (62.5 [8.6] years, 44.2% men) included, 33.2% had physical prefrail and 3.3% had frail status. Compared with the robust subjects, prefrail and/or frail subjects presented with more overall CMB numbers and a higher number and/or incidence of CMB in the deep and/or infratentorial regions. Multivariate analysis with adjustment for age, sex, and vascular risk factors revealed that the CMB numbers were significantly associated with physical frailty. The brainstem was the only CMB location significantly associated with physical frailty (odds ratio, 95% CI, 13.50, 1.23-147.79) and the weakness component (5.04, 1.47-17.2), independent of age, sex, vascular risk factors, and the other presentations of CSVDs. Our results suggest that CSVD is involved in the pathophysiology of physical frailty.
Insights
Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), a marker of small vessel disease, are linked to physical frailty in older adults. This finding suggests a role for cerebral small vessel diseases (CSVDs) in the development of frailty.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gerontology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Physical frailty is a growing concern in aging populations.
- Cerebral small vessel diseases (CSVDs) are common in older adults and affect brain health.
- Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are a key imaging marker of CSVDs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and physical frailty.
- To explore if CSVDs contribute to the development of physical frailty.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 962 community-dwelling older adults from the I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study.
- Physical frailty assessed using the Cardiovascular Health Study score (weakness, low activity, slowness, exhaustion, weight loss).
- CMBs detected via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using susceptibility-weighted imaging.
Main Results:
- 36.5% of participants were prefrail or frail.
- Pre/frail individuals had more CMBs overall and in deep/infratentorial regions compared to robust individuals.
- CMB counts were significantly associated with physical frailty, particularly in the brainstem, independent of confounders.
Conclusions:
- Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is implicated in the pathophysiology of physical frailty.
- Brainstem CMBs are specifically linked to physical frailty and the weakness component.
- Findings highlight the neurological underpinnings of age-related physical decline.
