Cognitive frailty: a useful concept or a source of confusion? Insights from a survey of European geriatricians
There is no clear consensus opinion among geriatricians in Europe on the definition of 'cognitive frailty'. While there is some core support for the IANA-IAGG definition, it is not intuitive to those not already familiar with the term. The variance in the current understanding of cognitive frailty among geriatricians suggests the time is right for a meaningful debate on this issue. While there is ongoing, growing research on a shared pathophysiology between physical frailty and cognitive impairment, further studies are required to evaluate the added benefit of this particular conceptual theorization in older persons care rather than its single components, and if beneficial, how awareness, understanding and correct usage of the concept can be improved.
Authors
- Susan Deborah Shenkin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7375-4776)
- Alessandra Coin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1687-4493)
- Antonio Cherubini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0261-9897)
- Suzanne Timmons (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7790-9552)
- Alessandro Morandi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4848-2507)
- Catríona Curtin
- Giuseppe Bellelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5430-0947)
- Enrico Brunetti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2028-2319)
- María Cristina Ferrara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7971-5943)
- Massimiliano Fedecostante (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0130-5805)
- Pınar Soysal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6042-1718)
- Mario Bo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2945-0243)
- Mary Faherty (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0812-9128)
Institutions
- Marche Polytechnic University (IT)
- University of Padua (IT)
- University College Cork (IE)
- Bezmiâlem Vakıf Üniversitesi (TR)
- Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (ES)
- Azienda Ospedaliera San Gerardo (IT)
- Department of Medical Sciences (RU)
- Azienda Ospedale - Università Padova (IT)
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT)
- Istituto Nazionale di Riposo e Cura per Anziani (IT)
- Istituti Ospitalieri di Cremona (IT)
- University of Florence (IT)
- University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
- University of Brescia (IT)
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Geriatrics
- Published
- 2025-04-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05930-9
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Frailty in Older Adults
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.45