Association of Body Composition with Functional Capacity and Cognitive Function in Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes.

Background: Older adults living in nursing homes have an increased risk of adverse outcomes. However, the role of body composition in vital health and quality of life parameters such as functional capacity and cognitive function is less studied in this group of older adults compared to community-dwelling counterparts.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the association of body composition with functional capacity and cognitive function in nursing home residents.

Methods: Fifty-three older adults (82.8 ± 7.3 years) were enrolled in this study and they underwent body composition evaluation, functional capacity and cognitive function measurements.

Results: The results showed a high prevalence of obesity accompanied by functional capacity limitations and cognitive impairment in older adults living in nursing homes. Partial correlations, controlling for age, showed that body fat percentage was positively correlated with sit-to-stand-5 (r = 0.310, p = 0.025) and timed-up-and-go (r = 0.331, p = 0.017), and negatively correlated with handgrip strength test results (r = -0.431, p<0.001), whereas greater lean body mass was associated with better sit-to-stand-5 (r = -0.410, p = 0.003), handgrip strength (r=0.624, p<0.001) and cognitive function performance (r = 0.302, p = 0.037).

Conclusions: These important associations reinforce the need to develop effective healthy lifestyle interventions targeting both lean mass and body fat to combat functional and cognitive decline in nursing home residents.