Relationship between Eye Frailty and Physical, Social, and Psychological/Cognitive Weaknesses among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between eye frailty and physical, social, and psychological/cognitive weaknesses among older adults in Japan. The participants were 192 community-dwelling older adult women. We measured handgrip strength, walking speed, and skeletal muscle mass; additionally, their physical, social, and psychological/cognitive frailties were surveyed using questionnaires. Eye frailty self-checks were used to assess eye frailty. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to verify the validity of the eye frailty self-checks. Eye frailty prevalence and related factors were investigated by conducting a binomial logistic regression analysis, with eye frailty as the dependent variable. The factor analysis results showed that a model could be constructed with the two factors of visual acuity or contrast and visual field. The model’s goodness of fit was acceptable, supporting the validity of the self-checking construct. The Kihon checklist was the only variable with a significant relationship to eye frailty. Regarding the relationship between eye frailty and subordinate items of the Kihon checklist, social withdrawal [odds ratio (OR) 2.437, 95% confidence interval 1.145–5.188], cognitive function (OR 2.047, 95%CI 1.051–3.984), and depressed mood (OR 1.820, 95%CI 1.163–2.848) were significant. Eye frailty can be considered a factor reflecting the existence of social and psychological/cognitive frailties.

Understanding exogenous factors and biological mechanisms for cognitive frailty: a multidisciplinary scoping review

“…One study noted independent prediction of CF from both depression and hearing impairment (Ma et al, 2017). Similarly, Itokazu et al (2022) suggested eye frailty was associated with cognitive function, depressive mood and social withdrawal, and Lee et al (2023) found that having eye problems was a risk factor for transition from PF to CF over time, but higher education level and cognitively stimulating activities were protective factors.…”