Sarcopenia and Cognitive Decline in Hospitalized Older Adults from a Prospective Study

Abstract

As populations age, sarcopenia increasingly impacts healthcare due to its associations with morbidity, mortality, and cognitive decline. This study is a cross-sectional analysis of prospectively collected data from 140 older adults hospitalized in an internal medicine department. Sarcopenia was measured by handgrip strength, and cognitive function by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Sarcopenic patients (n=78) had lower DSST scores (p=0.003) and Norton scores (p&;lt0.001) compared to non-sarcopenic patients. Handgrip strength showed a significant positive correlation with DSST scores (R=0.26, p=0.0019), persisting after adjustments for age and sex (R=0.42, p=1.7e-07). This study underscores a significant association between sarcopenia and cognitive decline in hospitalized older adults, advocating for routine sarcopenia and cognitive assessments upon admission. These findings emphasize the importance of identifying at-risk patients early and developing targeted interventions. Future research should further explore underlying mechanisms and validate findings in broader cohorts.

Figure 1.

Example of a Digital DSST. Illustration of the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) used in cognitive assessment.

Figure 2.

Association Between Hand Grip Strength and Cognitive Function. (A) Correlation between hand grip strength and DSST scores. (B) Linear regression model predicting DSST scores based on grip strength, sex, and age.

Figure 3.

Effects of Sarcopenia on DSST Performance. (A) DSST scores stratified by sarcopenia status in males and females. (B) DSST scores across different age groups. (C) Comparison of DSST scores between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients, stratified by age. (D) Linear regression model of DSST scores as a function of age, stratified by sarcopenia status.