Relationship Between Frailty Status and Brain Function During Inhibitory Function Tasks in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background: Maintaining cognitive function in frail older adults is important in maintaining their quality of life. The early detection of cognitive decline is necessary to maintain cognitive function. While event-related potentials (ERPs) have been reported as a measure of frontal lobe inhibitory function, the association between ERPs and frailty status remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between frailty status and ERP.

Methods: The participants were 46 older adults living in the community, and ERP was measured as an index of brain function. Frailty assessment was conducted using the Kihon Checklist. This study compared the latency and amplitude of the P3 of ERPs between robust and frail status, including pre-frail individuals. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the association between frailty status and ERP.

Results: P3 latency was significantly delayed in the frail group compared to the robust group. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis showed that frailty status was associated with Cz (β = -0.453, p = 0.003), CPz (β = -0.375, p = 0.016) and Pz (β = -0.358, p = 0.027) at P3 latency independently of cognitive function.

Conclusions: Frailty status decreased the rate of information processing related to inhibitory functions and was associated with P3 latency of the ERP. This study emphasises the necessity of assessing inhibitory function in older adults with frailty.