Muscat: A new study published in JAMA Neurology has uncovered a strong link between frailty and the risk of dementia in older adults. Researchers found that frailty levels, marked by physical vulnerability and cumulative health deficits, tended to increase significantly in the years leading up to a dementia diagnosis.

According to Oman News Agency, The study tracked frailty trajectories in adults over 60 with no baseline cognitive impairments. Using a frailty index, researchers measured physical health deficits and found that individuals who later developed dementia consistently showed higher frailty scores years before diagnosis compared to those who did not develop the condition.

This increase in frailty began four to nine years before dementia onset, with the association between higher frailty scores and dementia risk remaining significant even when adjusting for age, sex, education, and ethnicity. The findings highlight frailty as a potential early marker for dementia, suggesting that monitoring frailty
could help identify high-risk individuals and guide targeted prevention efforts.