AUTHOR=Feng Shani , Xie Kaixuan , Zhang Yu , Yang Xinyu , Guo Youpeng , Xu Dandan 

TITLE=The relationship between skeletal muscle mass and cognitive impairment in older adults: a longitudinal study based on CLHLS

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1571510

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2025.1571510

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between skeletal muscle mass and cognitive impairment in older adults.MethodsBased on the longitudinal survey data of the four phases of the China Older Adults Health Influencing Factors Longitudinal Survey Project from 2008 to 2018, this study used the Cox regression analysis method and the R4.3.3 software to construct a limiting cubic spline model to deeply explore the dose–response relationship between skeletal muscle mass and cognitive impairment in the older adults.ResultsIn this study, 2,199 older adults (with ages ranging from 61 to 108 years, 51.7% of whom are female and 48.2% are male) were included and followed up for a decade, during which four rounds of data collection were carried out. The results showed that the proportion of new-onset cognitive impairment in men was 14.61%, while the proportion in women was 33.48%. After adjusting for confounding factors, Cox regression results showed that the larger the muscle mass group, the greater the protective effect on cognitive impairment. The results of RCS showed that the association between skeletal muscle mass and cognitive impairment in the older adults group (Poverall trend <0.05, Pnonlinear <0.05) showed a nonlinear increasing trend, and there were gender differences. ASMI < 7.2 kg/m2 in older men was a risk factor for cognitive impairment (HR>1); ASMI < 5.4 kg/m2 in older women was a risk factor for cognitive impairment (HR>1). This suggests that ASMI should be maintained at a high level in older men and women, respectively.ConclusionThere is a link between skeletal muscle mass and cognitive impairment in older adults, and cognitive function can be improved through early intervention or by improving the level of skeletal muscle mass in older adults.