Understanding cognitive frailty in aging adults: prevalence, risk factors, pathogenesis and non-pharmacological interventions

Abstract

The worldwide increase in the aged population raises health concerns for elderly individuals. Cognitive frailty of the elderly (apart from those suffering from Alzheimer's disease or other type of dementia) is a complex construct associated with aging, which is composed of physical and cognitive components, while physical frailty and cognitive impairment mutually affect each other. Although the prevalence of cognitive frailty in community-dwelling older adults without neurodegenerative disease is low, it can rise dramatically in clinical settings. Early identifi cation of this condition can contribute to delaying the adverse outcomes that lead to higher mortality rates. This review aims to defi ne cognitive frailty, its prevalence, risk factors, and pathogenesis, while highlighting the need for further research on identifi cation, prevention, and nonpharmacological management of cognitive frailty in older adults in view of promoting healthy aging and secondary prevention strategies for dementia (Fig. 1, Ref. 93).