Factors Associated With Cognitive And Functional Performance In Elderly People In Cali, Colombia. A Multifactorial Approach.

Aging is accompanied by physiological, cognitive, psychological, and social changes that can have a negative impact on physical performance and functional capacity. Consequently, it leads to an increase in health problems resulting from the interplay of genetic and environmental factors, such as lifestyle, physical activity, and comorbidities. PURPOSE: To determine the interaction of genetic, demographic, physical fitness, and physical activity factors on cognitive and functional performance in elderly Colombians. METHODS: The study was conducted in a Colombian elderly population which included a sample of 422 adults. This research employed a structural model was used to assess the effects of genetic, demographic, physical fitness, and physical activity factors on cognitive and functional performance. Functional independence was evaluated using the Barthel scale, physical fitness was measured through manual prehensile strength and the six-minute walk test, waist circumference was assessed, and physical activity levels were determined using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Cognitive ability was evaluated using the Minimental State Examination (MMSE), the IL6 and COL1A1 genes, age and sex were considered. The structural equation model was estimated robustly using Weighted Least Squares Mean and Variance Adjusted (WLSMV) with a likelihood ratio. The model's goodness of fit was evaluated using Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) and Comparative Fitness Index (CFI). RESULTS: Demographics, along with fitness and physical activity, were found to be linked to functional factors (RMSEA = 0.087, 90% CI = 0.040-0.140, CFI = 0.811). CONCLUSIONS:These results provide substantial evidence regarding the intricate relationships between genetic, demographic, and physical fitness factors and their impact on cognitive and functional performance in the elderly population of Colombia. This research has been funded by Dirección General de Investigaciones of Universidad Santiago de Cali under call No. 02-2023