Association between Sarcopenia and Cognitive Functions in Older Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sarcopenia and cognitive disorders are frequently observed in older individuals. This study investigated the relationship between sarcopenia and cognitive function in this population.

This cross-sectional study included 201 participants aged >65 years in Istanbul between July 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021. We screened all participants using the SARC-F (strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls) questionnaire to determine the risk of sarcopenia. Handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass of participants at risk were measured to diagnose sarcopenia. Sarcopenia severity was evaluated using a 4-m walking speed test. We evaluated the cognitive status of participants using the Standardized Mini-Mental Test (SMMT) and the Standardized Mini-Mental Test for the Untrained (SMMT-E).

It was found that 10.9% (n=22) of participants was risky for sarcopenia and 6.0% (n=12) and 33.3% (n=4) had definite and severe sarcopenia, respectively. Examination of the association between cognitive impairment and SARC-F showed that 8.6% (n=14) of participants with normal cognitive function were at risk of sarcopenia compared to 20.5% (n=8) of participants with cognitive impairment (p=0.045). Evaluation of the relationship between cognitive function and sarcopenia status showed that 3.7% (n=6) of participants with normal cognitive function had sarcopenia compared to 15.4% (n=6) among participants with cognitive impairment (p=0.006).

The rate of sarcopenia was significantly higher in older individuals with cognitive than those with normal cognitive functions.