Carcelén-Fraile María Del Mar, Melguizo-Garín Anabel, Infante-Guedes Aday, Medina-Ramírez Raquel, Denche-Gil Sandra, Aibar-Almazán Agustín, Castellote-Caballero Yolanda, Carcelén-Fraile María Del Carmen
Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain.
Department of Social Psychology, Social Work and Social Services and Social Anthropology. University of Málaga.
PLoS One. 2025 Sep 25;20(9):e0332377. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0332377. eCollection 2025.
In older adulthood, mild cognitive impairment is an intermediate stage between normal aging and dementia, making its detection crucial. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the associations between cognitive function and frailty, nutritional status, and quality of life in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
This work was conducted through a cross-sectional, analytical study involving 129 adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, with a mean age of 68.07 ± 4.22. For cognitive assessment, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Isaac Verbal Fluency Test, Trail Making Test (TMT), D2 Test of Attention (D2 Test), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) were completed; clinical and functional status was assessed using the frailty (FRAIL), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and life quality 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) questionnaires.
Regarding overall cognitive performance, the presence of mild cognitive impairment was confirmed in the sample, as was the slowing of executive functions. Regarding selective attention, participants obtained an average of 138.30 points [SD = 4.30] in the D2 test, while the average score for processing speed measured using the DSST was 43.60 [SD = 3.50]. Regarding clinical and functional variables, the average FRAIL score was 2.26 [SD = 1.67], suggesting a high prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty; the average nutritional status was 27.91 [SD = 1.88], a range of adequate nutritional status. Finally, quality of life showed an average of 61.40 [SD = 14.87], indicating a moderate level.
This study shows that frailty, nutritional status, and quality of life are closely related to mild cognitive impairment. These results reinforce the need for early and multidimensional interventions that contribute to preserving the quality of life.
在老年阶段，轻度认知障碍是正常衰老与痴呆之间的中间阶段，因此对其进行检测至关重要。所以，本研究旨在分析轻度认知障碍老年人的认知功能与衰弱、营养状况及生活质量之间的关联。
本研究通过一项横断面分析研究开展，纳入了129名被诊断为轻度认知障碍的成年人，平均年龄为68.07±4.22岁。进行了认知评估，包括简易精神状态检查表（MMSE）、蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）、艾萨克言语流畅性测试、连线测验（TMT）、数字划消测验（D2测试）和数字符号替换测验（DSST）；使用衰弱（FRAIL）量表、微型营养评定量表（MNA）和生活质量36项简短量表调查问卷（SF-36）评估临床和功能状态。
关于总体认知表现，样本中确认存在轻度认知障碍，执行功能也有所减慢。在选择性注意力方面，参与者在D2测试中的平均得分为138.30分[标准差=4.30]，而使用DSST测量的处理速度平均得分为43.60分[标准差=3.50]。在临床和功能变量方面，FRAIL量表的平均得分为2.26分[标准差=1.67]，表明衰弱和衰弱前期的患病率较高；平均营养状况评分为27.91分[标准差=1.88]，处于营养状况充足的范围。最后，生活质量的平均得分为61.40分[标准差=14.87]，表明处于中等水平。
本研究表明，衰弱、营养状况和生活质量与轻度认知障碍密切相关。这些结果强化了进行早期多维度干预以维持生活质量的必要性。
