Affiliations: [a] Department of Preventive Gerontology, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Aichi, Japan
| [b] Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| [c] Department of Neurology and Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| [d] Institute for Gerontology, J.F. Oberlin University, Tokyo, Japan
| [e]
National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Aichi, Japan
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Takehiko Doi, PhD, Department of Preventive Gerontology, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 7-430 Moriokacho, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan. Tel.: +81 562 44 5651; Fax: +81 562 46 8294; E-mail: take-d@ncgg.go.jp.
Abstract: Background: It is important to examine the etiology of motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) and its association with dementia and disability to obtain biological insights and to develop preventive strategies. Objective: This study aimed to examine the association of MCR with incidence of dementia and disability in a Japanese community-dwelling sample of older adults. Methods: Participants were 4,235 older adults (50% women, mean age: 72.0 years). MCR was diagnosed at baseline using established criteria in non-demented seniors with self-reported cognitive complaints and slow gait. Incident cases of dementia were identified from insurance data monthly. Disability was regarded as certification by long-term care insurance. Results: At baseline, 265 participants (6.3%) met criteria for MCR. During follow-up (mean duration: 29 months), there were 138 incident cases of dementia (3.3%) and 207 incident cases of disability (4.9%). Cox-proportional hazards models, adjusted for demographical data, lifestyle, and medical conditions, showed that presence of MCR at baseline was a major risk factor for developing dementia (HR 2.49, 95% CI 1.52–4.10, p < 0.001). MCR also predicted risk for disability (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.08–2.02, p < 0.001). Conclusions: MCR is helpful in the short-term prediction of risk for dementia and disability in the elderly Japanese population. Identification of seniors with MCR is recommended for early detection and instituting preventive measures for reducing the risk of dementia and disability.
