Disentangling the relationship between biological age and frailty in community-dwelling older Mexican adults

Gac Med Mex. 2024;160(3):290-300. doi: 10.24875/GMM.24000115.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Background: Older adults have highly heterogeneous aging rates.

Objective: To explore the association of biological age (BA) and accelerated aging with frailty in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: We assessed 735 community-dwelling older adults from the Coyocan Cohort. BA was measured using AnthropoAge, accelerated aging with AnthropoAgeAccel, and frailty using Fried's phenotype and the frailty index. We explored the association of BA and accelerated aging (AnthropoAgeAccel ≥ 0) with frailty at baseline and characterized the body composition and physical function phenotype of accelerated aging in non-frail/frail participants. We also explored accelerated aging as a risk factor for frailty progression after 3-years of follow-up.

Results: Older adults with accelerated aging have higher frailty prevalence and indices, lower handgrip strength and gait speed. AnthropoAgeAccel was associated with higher frailty indices (β = 0.0053, 95%CI 0.0027-0.0079), and increased odds of frailty at baseline (OR 1.16, 95%CI 1.09-1.25). We observed sex-based differences in body composition and physical function linked to accelerated aging in non-frail participants; however, these differences were absent in pre-frail/frail participants. Accelerated aging at baseline was associated with higher risk of frailty progression over time (OR 1.74, 95%CI 1.11-2.75).

Conclusions: Despite being intertwined, biological accelerated aging is largely independent of frailty in community-dwelling older adults.

Antecedentes: Los adultos mayores tienen tasas de envejecimiento heterogéneas.

Objetivo: Explorar la asociación entre edad biológica (EB) y envejecimiento acelerado (EA) con fragilidad en adultos mayores.

Métodos: Análisis de 735 adultos mayores de la Cohorte de Coyocán. Se estimó EB con AnthropoAge, EA con AnthropoAgeAccel y fragilidad con el fenotipo de Fried y el índice de fragilidad (IF). Se exploró la asociación de EB y EA (AnthropoAgeAccel ≥ 0) con fragilidad; se caracterizamos su presencia simultánea sobre fenotipos de composición corporal y función física. Se determinó el riesgo del EA para progresión del fenotipo de fragilidad a tres 3 años de seguimiento.

Resultados: Los adultos mayores con EA presentaron mayor prevalencia de fragilidad e IF, menor fuerza de prensión y velocidad de marcha. Los resultados de AnthropoAgeAccel se asociaron a IF (β = 0.0053, IC95% 0.0027-0.0079) y al fenotipo de fragilidad (RM = 1.16, IC 95 % = 1.09-1.25). Existieron diferencias por sexo en composición corporal y función física relacionadas con EA solo en participantes no frágiles. El EA en la evaluación basal se asoció con progresión de la fragilidad con el tiempo (RM = 1.74, IC 985 % = 1.11-2.75).

Conclusiones: A pesar su asociación, el EA es independiente de la fragilidad en adultos mayores que viven en la comunidad.

Keywords: Adultos mayores; Biological age; Edad biológica; Fragilidad; Frailty; Frailty index; Mexico; México; Older adults; Índice de fragilidad.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging* / physiology
  • Body Composition
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Frail Elderly* / statistics & numerical data
  • Frailty* / epidemiology
  • Hand Strength / physiology
  • Humans
  • Independent Living* / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Walking Speed / physiology