Associations of Cognitive Function and Physical Activity with Frailty: A Community-Based Study of Older Adults.
- 1Department of Public Health Nursing, Selçuk University Faculty of Nursing, Konya, Türkiye.
- 2Division of Public Health Nursing, Department of Nursing, Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University Faculty of Health Sciences, Balıkesir, Türkiye.
- 3Department of Midwifery, Karatay University Faculty of Health Sciences, Konya, Türkiye.
Abstract
Aim
This study examined the associations among cognitive function, physical activity, and sociodemographic factors on frailty levels among older adults in a primary care population.Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 269 older adults who applied for primary health care services in a province of Türkiye. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using the Edmonton Frailty Scale, Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, and Standardized Mini Mental Test. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with frailty.Results
The mean frailty score was 4.83 ± 2.93, with 46.8% of participants classified as vulnerable or frail. Age (β = .507), female gender (β = .603), lower education (β = .492), unemployment (β = .525), poor economic status (β = .672), chronic disease (β = .619), polypharmacy (β = .497), lower cognitive level (β = -.455), and lower physical activity (β = -.507) were significantly associated with frailty (p < .001 for all associated factors). The model explained 78.9% of variance in frailty levels (adjusted R2 = .789).Conclusion
Frailty among older adults was significantly associated with modifiable factors, including physical inactivity and cognitive decline, as well as socioeconomic vulnerability. Integrating frailty screening into primary health care and implementing interventions targeting physical and cognitive health may help reduce frailty-related vulnerability in aging populations. Cite this article as: Sel.uk-Tosun, A., Akgül-Gündoğdu, N., Dağcı-Günal, B., & Demirdağ, B. (2026). Associations of cognitive function and physical activity with frailty: a community-based study of older adults. Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing, 34, 0410, doi: 10.5152/FNJN.2026.25410.
Related
- Associations of physical function and multimorbidity with cognitive impairment in community-dwelling Chinese octogenarians
- Associations between community built environment and leisure-time physical activity among older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Associations Among family environment, self-identity, cognitive emotion regulation strategy use, and physical activity in adolescents: A multi-theory integration perspective
- Pre-implementation barriers and facilitators to implementing a physical activity guideline for community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a qualitative stakeholder study
- T and B cell subsets differentially correlate with amyloid deposition and neurocognitive function in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment after one year of physical activity
BibTeX
@article{tosun2026associations,
title = {{Associations of Cognitive Function and Physical Activity with Frailty: A Community-Based Study of Older Adults.}},
author = {Alime Selçuk Tosun and Nurcan Akgül Gündoğdu and Büşra Dağcı Günal and Büşra Demirdağ},
journal = {Florence Nightingale journal of nursing},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.5152/fnjn.2026.25410},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42851034},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Associations of Cognitive Function and Physical Activity with Frailty: A Community-Based Study of Older Adults.
AU - Alime Selçuk Tosun
AU - Nurcan Akgül Gündoğdu
AU - Büşra Dağcı Günal
AU - Büşra Demirdağ
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Florence Nightingale journal of nursing
DO - 10.5152/fnjn.2026.25410
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42851034
AB - Aim This study examined the associations among cognitive function, physical activity, and sociodemographic factors on frailty levels among older adults in a primary care population.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 269 older adults who applied for primary health care services in a province of Türkiye. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using the Edmonton Frailty Scale, Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, and Standardized Mini Mental Test. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with frailty.Results The mean frailty score was 4.83 ± 2.93, with 46.8% of participants classified as vulnerable or frail. Age (β = .507), female gender (β = .603), lower education (β = .492), unemployment (β = .525), poor economic status (β = .672), chronic disease (β = .619), polypharmacy (β = .497), lower cognitive level (β = -.455), and lower physical activity (β = -.507) were significantly associated with frailty (p < .001 for all associated factors). The model explained 78.9% of variance in frailty levels (adjusted R2 = .789).Conclusion Frailty among older adults was significantly associated with modifiable factors, including physical inactivity and cognitive decline, as well as socioeconomic vulnerability. Integrating frailty screening into primary health care and implementing interventions targeting physical and cognitive health may help reduce frailty-related vulnerability in aging populations. Cite this article as: Sel.uk-Tosun, A., Akgül-Gündoğdu, N., Dağcı-Günal, B., & Demirdağ, B. (2026). Associations of cognitive function and physical activity with frailty: a community-based study of older adults. Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing, 34, 0410, doi: 10.5152/FNJN.2026.25410.
SN - 2687-6442
ER -