Transforming Cognitive Frailty to Later Life Self-Sufficiency (AGELESS) Study: Cohort Description and Bibliometric...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Biomedical Research

Background:

• Frailty and cognitive impairment are prevalent geriatric syndromes in Asian low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
• A significant research gap exists regarding healthy aging and these syndromes in LMIC.
• The Transforming Cognitive Frailty into Later-life Self-Sufficiency (AGELESS) cohort was established to address this gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the AGELESS cohort.
• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of research stemming from the cohort.
• To highlight key findings relevant to aging, frailty, and cognitive health in a diverse population.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal cohort study involving 6064 participants aged ≥55 years in Malaysia.
• Data collection included demographics, cognitive function, medical history, psychological well-being, healthcare utilization, physical performance, and biological samples (blood, stool).
• Bibliometric analysis of publications using Google Scholar to identify trends, journals, keywords, and findings.

Main Results:

• The AGELESS dataset has generated 187 publications on healthy aging, dementia, and healthcare.
• Key research areas include cognitive health, blood-based biomarkers, frailty, chronic diseases, social support, quality of life, technology, nutrition, and lifestyle.
• Findings contribute to understanding aging processes and associated health challenges in LMIC.

Conclusions:

• The AGELESS study significantly contributes to the body of research from LMIC, addressing previous imbalances.
• Despite resource challenges, the cohort's findings are valuable for informing local health practices and policies.
• The study underscores the importance of longitudinal research in understanding and mitigating geriatric syndromes in diverse populations.