Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine (Sep 2024)

Depression and Plasma pTau Levels Are Associated with Frailty Status in Hispanic Community-Dwelling Older Women

  • Giselle A. Rangel,
  • Adam E. Tratner,
  • Diana C. Oviedo,
  • Alcibiades E. Villarreal,
  • Maria B. Carreira,
  • Sofia Rodriguez-Araña,
  • Eugenia Flores Millender,
  • Casey Xavier Hall,
  • Frank Y. Wong,
  • Sid O’Bryant,
  • Gabrielle B. Britton

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214241283546
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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The population of Hispanic older adults is growing along with the burden of chronic diseases. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the factors associated with frailty among community-dwelling Hispanic women aged ≥60 years ( n = 357) enrolled in the Panama Aging Research Initiative—Health Disparities study of cognitive-functional health of older persons in Panama. Cognitive function was assessed with a neuropsychological test battery. Depression was measured with the Geriatric Depression Scale. Frailty was defined using the Fried criteria and participants were classified as non-frail, pre-frail or frail. A subsample ( n = 281) provided fasting blood samples for quantification of protein biomarkers. Associations were examined using hierarchical multiple linear regressions. 59.4% and 9.0% of participants ( M = 69.2 years, SD = 6.3) were pre-frail and frail, respectively. Having more depression (β = .28, p < .001) was significantly associated with frailty, even after covariate adjustment. Cognitive function was not associated with frailty. Higher pTau181 levels were associated with increased frailty (β = .13, p = .039), whereas higher α2M levels were associated with decreased frailty (β = −.16, p = .004). These findings advance the search for health indicators and biomarkers of frailty and warrant further studies to decrease the burden of frailty among older Hispanic women.