Components of Sarcopenia and Frailty in Relation to Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: An Ambispective Cohort Study from a Tertiary Hospital

Background: Sarcopenia and frailty are common geriatric syndromes that may contribute to mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Evidence regarding the independent roles of individual sarcopenia components and frailty in MCI remains limited in low- and middle-income countries. This study evaluated the association between sarcopenia components, frailty, and MCI among older adults in Indonesia. Methods: An ambispective cohort study was conducted among adults aged ≥60 years attending the Geriatric Outpatient Clinic of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital, Jakarta. Sarcopenia components were assessed using SARC-Calf (low muscle mass indicator), handgrip strength, and the five-times sit-to-stand test. Frailty was evaluated using the FRAIL scale. Cognitive function was assessed using the Rapid Cognitive Screening. Multivariate log-binomial or Poisson regression with robust variance was used to estimate adjusted risk ratios (RRs) for MCI. Results: A total of 121 participants (median age 74 years; 68.6% female) were included, with an MCI prevalence of 21.5%. After adjustment for confounders, low muscle mass indicator (RR 2.206; 95% CI 1.045–4.652) and low muscle strength (RR 3.006; 95% CI 1.202–7.517) were independently associated with MCI. Low physical performance (RR 1.773; 95% CI 0.796–3.773) and frailty (RR 1.086; 95% CI 0.377–3.134) were not significantly associated with MCI. Conclusion: Low muscle mass indicators and reduced muscle strength were independently associated with MCI, supporting the integration of simple sarcopenia screening tools into routine geriatric cognitive assessment.