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Sarcopenia Is Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

An Erratum to this article was published on 06 July 2019

This article has been updated

Abstract

Background and Objectives

There is little evidence in the literature about the possible relationship between sarcopenia and cognition in older adults. Our objective was to investigate the association between cognitive impairment and sarcopenia in older adults living in the community through a systematic review of published studies.

Research Design and Methods

We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis through Pubmed, LILACS, Scielo and Web of Science databases between March 1, 2001 and December 18, 2018. We included longitudinal and cross-sectional studies that evaluated sarcopenia and cognition as a primary objective.

Results

Of the 274 studies identified by the systematic review, 10 were included in qualitative analysis (total of 9,703 participants), and 6 were eligible for the meta-analysis (n = 7,045). Mean prevalence of sarcopenia was 10.5%. Cognitive impairment was observed in 269 participants with sarcopenia (40%), compared with 1,616 in non-sarcopenic participants (25.3%). Sarcopenia was significantly associated with cognitive impairment (pooled OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.26–4.92; p = 0.008). Heterogeneity across the studies was high and significant (I2 = 84%).

Discussion and Implications

Our analyzes confirmed that sarcopenic older adults presented a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment. Sarcopenia may represent a risk factor for cognitive decline, but longitudinal studies are needed to explore causality.

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Change history

  • 06 July 2019

    The authors from «Sarcopenia Is Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”, J Nutr Health Aging. 2019;23(6):525–531, advise an error in Figure 2. Where is stated Association not present in the bottom of the Forest Plot is in fact Association present, and vice-versa. Positive associations are indicated at the right side of the Forest Plot.

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Acknowledgement

Prof. Aprahamian receives National public grant level 2 from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications, Brazil).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    G. Cabett Cipolli & M. Sanches Yassuda

  2. Geriatrics Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Jundiaí, Jundiaí, SP, Brazil

    Ivan Aprahamian

  3. Group of Investigation on Multimorbidity and Mental Health in Aging (GIMMA), Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine of Jundiaí, Jundiaí, Brazil, 250 Francisco Telles street, ZIP 13.202-550

    Ivan Aprahamian

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  1. G. Cabett Cipolli
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Cabett Cipolli, G., Sanches Yassuda, M. & Aprahamian, I. Sarcopenia Is Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Nutr Health Aging 23, 525–531 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-019-1188-8

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