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Sarcopenia is a condition that is highly prevalent among older adults. This condition is linked to numerous adverse health outcomes, including cognitive impairment that impairs healthy ageing. While sarcopenia and cognitive impairment may share a common pathway, limited longitudinal studies exist to show the relationship between these two conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the longitudinal association between sarcopenia and cognitive impairment. This is a cohort study among older adults residing in Kuala Pilah District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. There were 2404 respondents at the baseline and 1946 respondents at one-year follow-up. Cognitive impairment was determined using Mini-mental State Examination scores. Sarcopenia was identified using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria, gait speed was measured using a 4-meter gait test, handgrip strength was assessed using Jamar handheld dynamometer, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to determine the longitudinal association between sarcopenia and cognitive impairment, presented as relative risk (RR) and its 95% confidence interval. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 5.0% (95% CI 4.00–5.90), and severe sarcopenia was 3.60% (95% CI 2.84–4.31). Upon adjusting for covariates, older adults with sarcopenia have an 80 per cent increased risk of cognitive impairment compared to those without (RR 1.80; 95% CI 1.18–2.75). Similarly, severe sarcopenia was found to significantly increase the risk of cognitive impairment by 101 per cent in the adjusted model (RR 2.01; 95% CI 1.24–3.27). Our study showed that sarcopenia, severe sarcopenia, low physical activity, depressive symptoms, hearing impairment and chronic pain were associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older adults. Therefore, early intervention to prevent sarcopenia, depressive symptoms, hearing impairment, chronic pain, and higher physical activity among older adults is recommended.

To determine the association between loss of muscle strength, mass, and quality and functional limitation and physical disability in older men.Cross-sectional study of older men participating in the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP).Elderly men living in a defined geographical region in Sydney, Australia.One thousand seven hundred five community-dwelling men aged 70 and older who participated in the baseline assessments of CHAMP.Upper and lower extremity strength were measured using dynamometers for grip and quadriceps strength. Appendicular skeletal lean mass was assessed using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Muscle quality was defined as the ratio of strength to mass in upper and lower extremities. For each parameter, subjects in the lowest 20% of the distribution were defined as below normal. Functional limitation was assessed according to self-report and objective lower extremity performance measures. Physical disability was measured according to self-report questionnaire.After adjusting for important confounders, the prevalence ratio (PR) for poor quadriceps strength and self-reported functional limitation was 1.91 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.10-2.40); for performance-based functional limitation the PR was 1.81 (95% CI = 1.45-2.24). The adjusted PR for poor grip strength and physical disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) was 1.37 (95% CI = 1.20-1.56). The adjusted PR for low skeletal lean mass (adjusted for fat mass) and physical disability in basic activities of daily living was 2.08 (95% CI = 1.37-3.15). For muscle quality, the PR for lower extremity specific force and functional limitation and physical disability was stronger than upper extremity specific force.Muscle strength is the single best measure of age-related muscle change and is associated with physical disability in IADLs and functional limitation.