Criterion-based Frailty, Sarcopenia, And Cognitive Decline Risk Evaluation In Older Women Using Infrared Motion Analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Motion analysis using infrared depth sensors has been used in geriatrics and gerontology. We previously reported that movement pattern during chair standing test (CS) and a 20-second stepping-in-place test (ST) distinguishes older individuals with or without care. This study aimed to determine whether standardized CS and ST thresholds can distinguish geriatric syndromes (frailty, sarcopenia, and cognitive decline). METHODS: In total, 978 community-dwelling older women aged ≥65 years were included in analyses. Next, older women (over 65 years; n = 141) were classified with sarcopenia (S group, n = 24), frailty (F group, n = 90), or cognitive decline (C group, n = 27). Movement patterns, such as coronal plane angle (CPA) during CS, and knee total movement distance (KMD), maximum left-right knee height (MKH), head total movement distance (TMD), and head maximum movement distance (MMD), stepping rate (STEP) were assessed during the 20-ST, using a Kinect camera. RESULTS: The 5-grade standards were determined by Takeshima et al. (2023). CPA, and KMD, STEP, TMD/KMD, and MKH scores during ST exhibited significant differences between the three groups (according to Kruskal-Wallis tests). Notably, KMD and TMD/KMD indicated each groups values fell below grade 3 (average). CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with frailty, sarcopenia, and cognitive decline showed inferior results compared to healthy counterparts in certain parameters of the CS and ST tests. These observations highlight applicability of this 5-grade standard of movement pattern, derived from infrared motion analysis during CS and ST testing towards evaluating and distinguishing physical status of older individuals. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science program for KAKENHI (Grant number: 20K11656)