Association between Perceived Stress and Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome in an Elderly Population: Rugao Longevity and Aging Study

Yuan-Fei Cao; Guo-Ping Shi; Hui Zhang; Meng-Zhen Sun; Zheng-Dong Wang; Xue-Feng Chu; Jiang-Hong Guo; Xiao-Feng Wang

doi:10.1159/000537937

Association between Perceived Stress and Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome in an Elderly Population: Rugao Longevity and Aging Study

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2024;53(2):74-82. doi: 10.1159/000537937. Epub 2024 Feb 26.

Authors

Yuan-Fei Cao^{1

2}, Guo-Ping Shi³, Hui Zhang^{4

3

5}, Meng-Zhen Sun^{3

5}, Zheng-Dong Wang³, Xue-Feng Chu³, Jiang-Hong Guo³, Xiao-Feng Wang^{4

3

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, [email protected].
² Fudan University Rugao Research Institute of Longevity and Aging, Rugao, China, [email protected].
³ Fudan University Rugao Research Institute of Longevity and Aging, Rugao, China.
⁴ MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
⁵ Human Phenome Institute, and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
⁶ National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Introduction: Previous studies have indicated a correlation between perceived stress and cognitive decline. However, it remains unknown whether high levels of perceived stress can result in motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome. This study investigated the relationship between perceived stress and MCR in a community-based population.

Methods: The study cohort comprised 852 elderly individuals from the Rugao Longitudinal Aging Cohort. Perceived stress was assessed using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), while MCR was defined as the coexistence of subjective memory complaints (SMCs) and slow gait speed.

Results: The average age of the study participants is 79.84 ± 4.34 years. The mean score of PSS-10 among participants is 10.32 (range = 0-33; [SD] = 5.71), with a median score of 10.00 (6.00, 14.00). The prevalence of MCR is 9.3%. In the logistic regression analysis, for each 1-SD (5.71) increase in the global PSS-10 score, the risk of MCR increased by 40% (95% CI 1.09-1.80). Additionally, in the aspect of two components of MCR, with a 1-SD increase (5.71) in the global PSS-10 score, there was a 50% (95% CI 1.29-1.75) increase in the risk of SMCs and a 27% (95% CI 1.04-1.55) increase in the risk of slow gait speed. In terms of specific walking speed, there was a reverse correlation between the global PSS-10 score and walking speed (r = -0.14, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: This study provided preliminary evidence that high levels of perceived stress were associated with the risk of MCR in a community-dwelling population.

Keywords: Cognitive decline; Gait speed; Motoric cognitive risk syndrome; Older adults; Perceived stress.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging* / physiology
Aging* / psychology
Cognitive Dysfunction* / epidemiology
Cognitive Dysfunction* / psychology
Cohort Studies
Female
Humans
Longevity
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Memory Disorders / epidemiology
Memory Disorders / psychology
Neuropsychological Tests
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Stress, Psychological* / epidemiology
Stress, Psychological* / psychology
Walking Speed

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project (2017SHZDZX01), the Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine (19MC1910500), and the National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFC2000400, 2018YFC2000400-3, 2018YFC2002000).