Association Between Healthy Lifestyle Habits and Intrinsic Capacity Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Singapore

Intrinsic capacity (IC) is the composite of an individual's physical and mental capacities. While lifestyle factors influence health outcomes, their combined association with IC remains understudied.

To examine the association between a Healthy Lifestyle Score (HLS) and intrinsic capacity in older adults in Singapore.

Data from a population-based sample of older adults aged ≥60 years in the Queenstown district of Singapore was analysed. The HLS (range 0-5) included smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, sleep quality, and BMI (Asian cut-offs). IC was measured using the WHO ICOPE framework and defined as the presence of one or more deficits.

A total of 1644 participants were included (mean age 72.1 years, 56.4% women). IC deficits were present in 50.9% of the cohort. Based on HLS, 29.9% were classified as unhealthy (0-2), 41.4% intermediate (3), and 28.6% healthy (4-5). HLS category was significantly associated with IC deficits (p = 0.004). Among participants with healthy lifestyles, 55.6% had no IC deficits, compared to 47.0% in the intermediate and 45.9% in the unhealthy groups. Only 13.9% met recommended physical activity levels; 58.3% had an unhealthy BMI, 20.0% consumed alcohol, 8.1% were smokers, and 31.7% reported insufficient sleep.

Healthier lifestyle profiles are significantly associated with fewer IC deficits. These findings underscore the importance of promoting modifiable health behaviours to preserve intrinsic capacity and support healthy ageing.