The Association Between Baseline Cognition With Body Composition Later in Life Among Older Adults in China: A Latent Profile Analysis
Hillary B. Spangler, Lisa Michelson, Annie Green Howard, Hsiao-Chuan Tien, Shufa Du, David H. Lynch, Bing Zhang, Huijun Wang, Penny Gordon Larsen, John A. BatsisBackground
The clinical importance of the relationships between cognition and later body composition is unclear and may have important clinical implications. Therefore, we examine the relationship between baseline cognition and later body composition among older adults in China.
Methods
Using the China Health and Nutrition Survey (n=1,482, 2006-2015), five body mass/composition subgroups were identified using latent profile analysis. Linear regression model and chi-squared tests were used to test for differences in cognition across profiles using cognitive (2015) and physical function screenings (2006 and 2015).
Results
Mean ages ranged from 71.9 (SD 5.7) to 74.1 (SD 7.4) (p=0.0682). The 2015 latent body mass/composition profiles were unrelated to earlier cognitive performance in older adults in China (p=0.76). There was a trend of increased ADL impairment between 2006 to 2015 between and within latent profiles.
Conclusions
There was no relationship between baseline cognition and later body composition among older adults in China, addressing the limited evidence base on the relationship between older adult cognitive performance and later body composition.