Cognitive frailty research (2001–2024): a scientometric analysis of its evolution, intellectual structure, and future frontiers

BACKGROUND: Cognitive frailty (CF), the co-existence of physical frailty and non-dementia cognitive impairment, has emerged as a critical geriatric syndrome and prevention target since the 2013 international consensus. However, a systematic quantification of its complete evolutionary trajectory and knowledge structure remains lacking. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive scientometric analysis of 422 publications (2001-2024) retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. We employed document co-citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence, and burst detection to map the field's trajectory, thematic structure, and research frontiers. RESULTS: The field evolved through three distinct stages: a pre-2013 germination phase, a 2013-2021 formation phase, and a post-2021 deepening phase. Co-citation analysis identified 13 major thematic clusters, with the 2013 consensus paper being the most cited work (LCS = 301, GCS = 755). Keyword burst analysis revealed 37 high-intensity burst terms, with recent bursts (post-2021) concentrated in psychosocial domains, such as social frailty, depression, and sleep quality, indicating a paradigm shift from a biomedical to a biopsychosocial model. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first full life-cycle knowledge map of CF research, demonstrating its transition from descriptive epidemiology to preventive intervention. This scientometric roadmap serves as a practical tool for researchers to identify knowledge gaps and collaboration opportunities, and for clinicians to understand the evidence base for multidomain assessment and intervention. It provides a data-driven foundation for accelerating translational research and implementing effective preventive or reversal strategies.