Association Between Timed Up and Go Test and Future Dementia Onset

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a common assessment for mobility and balance in older adults.
• Gait impairment, identified by a TUG test duration exceeding 10 seconds, may serve as an early indicator of neurological decline.
• The association between baseline TUG test results and future dementia risk requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between baseline Timed Up and Go (TUG) test results and the subsequent occurrence of dementia.
• To determine if gait impairment, as measured by the TUG test, predicts the risk of developing specific dementia subtypes.

Main Methods:

• A large cohort of 49,283 individuals aged 66 without prior dementia diagnosis was analyzed using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort database.
• Dementia occurrence was identified through specific medication prescriptions and ICD-10 codes between 2007 and 2013.
• Cox proportional hazard regression models were employed to assess the relationship between baseline TUG test performance and dementia incidence.

Main Results:

• Individuals with impaired TUG test results (gait impairment) exhibited a significantly higher risk of developing dementia (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.34).
• The impaired TUG group demonstrated increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (aHR, 1.26) and vascular dementia (aHR, 1.65).
• Incidence rates of dementia were higher in the impaired TUG group (6.8 per 1,000 person-years) compared to the normal TUG group (4.6 per 1,000 person-years).

Conclusions:

• Baseline TUG test results are a significant predictor of future dementia occurrence.
• Elderly individuals with impaired TUG test results may benefit from closer monitoring and early preventive interventions for dementia.
• The TUG test can aid in identifying individuals at higher risk for dementia, facilitating timely management strategies.