Preliminary data suggest that frailty tend to increase with age and is associated with fewer years of formal education. However, it is still unclear whether age and education synergistically act in the definition of frailty. Aim of the study is to evaluate the interaction between age and education in defining frailty in community-dwelling older persons. We considered 911 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 79.5 years) who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Our results showed that education and age interact in the definition of frailty following an exponential-type relationship. Whereas age is a non-modifiable risk factor, much can be done to address the social component of frailty here represented by education. The reported interaction suggests that social interventions might be particularly effective at an older age, paving the way for multidisciplinary interventions beyond the clinical field.

Relationship among Age, Education and Frailty in Older Persons / F. Bellelli, E. Consorti, T.M.K. Hettiarachchige, P. Rossi, T. Lucchi, M. Froldi, M. Cesari. - In: THE JOURNAL OF FRAILTY & AGING. - ISSN 2260-1341. - 12:4(2023 Oct), pp. 326-328. [10.14283/jfa.2023.39]

Relationship among Age, Education and Frailty in Older Persons

F. Bellelli
;
E. Consorti;M. Froldi;M. Cesari
2023

Abstract

Preliminary data suggest that frailty tend to increase with age and is associated with fewer years of formal education. However, it is still unclear whether age and education synergistically act in the definition of frailty. Aim of the study is to evaluate the interaction between age and education in defining frailty in community-dwelling older persons. We considered 911 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 79.5 years) who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Our results showed that education and age interact in the definition of frailty following an exponential-type relationship. Whereas age is a non-modifiable risk factor, much can be done to address the social component of frailty here represented by education. The reported interaction suggests that social interventions might be particularly effective at an older age, paving the way for multidisciplinary interventions beyond the clinical field.
prevention; geriatrics; frailty; older persons; social care;
Settore MEDS-05/A - Medicina interna
ott-2023
set-2023
https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2023.39
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
1-s2.0-S2260134124000562-main.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 366.37 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
366.37 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/1138296
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 7
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 6
social impact