Association between Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome and Indicators of Reflecting Independent Living among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study

The purpose of this study was to examine whether motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) is associated with various indicators of independent living among community-dwelling older adults in Japan. The study design was a cross-sectional study, and the participants were 107 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 79 ± 7 years) who were living independently. The participants were administered the Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old (QMCOO) as an indicator of health status and the Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence (JST-IC) as an indicator of higher levels of functioning capacity, among others. In addition, we assessed physical frailty (J-CHS), sarcopenia (AWGS2019), and MCR (slow gait + subjective memory complaints), which are predictors of adverse events in the elderly. Multiple regression analysis with QMCOO as the response variable showed that MCR (<i>p</i> = 0.01, β: 0.25) and physical frailty (<i>p</i> < 0.01, β: 0.43) were significantly associated. In addition, analysis with JST-IC as the response variable showed that MCR (<i>p</i> = 0.03, β: -0.20), physical frailty (<i>p</i> = 0.01, β: -0.24) and age (<i>p</i> = 0.02, β: -0.21) were significantly associated. In conclusion, MCR was found to be similarly associated with QMCOO and JST-IC as physical frailty. It is expected that the MCR will be used as an initial screening tool to identify signs of risk in community-dwelling older people, as it is easy to diagnose.