Nutritional Indicators and Cognitive Impairment among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Indonesia: Evidence from the Indonesia Longitudinal Aging Survey (ILAS) Lala Sri Fadila (a*), Ernis Asanti (a)
a) Department of Nutrition Science, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman
Jl. DR. Soeparno No.60, Kec. Purwokerto Utara, Kabupaten Banyumas, Jawa Tengah 53122, Indonesia
*lala.sri[at]unsoed.ac.id
Abstract
Background: Nutritional indicators, including body mass index (BMI) and sarcopenia risk are important determinants of cognitive function in older adults. While the relationship between BMI and cognitive impairment has shown mixed findings, sarcopenia consistently demonstrates a strong association with cognitive decline. Despite its significance, research on sarcopenia^s impact on cognitive function in low- and middle-income countries remains limited. Given the aging population, understanding nutritional indicators^ role in cognitive health is needed to inform public health strategies for aging populations.
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the association between nutritional indicators, including obesity and sarcopenia risk, and cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older adults in Indonesia using data from the Indonesia Longitudinal Aging Survey (ILAS).
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of ILAS participants aged ≥-60 years. We used data from 1495 older adults who had completed a survey on sociodemographic information, including sex, age, educational status, and health factors such as nutritional status, sarcopenia risk, waist circumference, depression risk, smoking behaviour, and illness. Cognitive function was assessed using the Six-Item Screener (SIS) and categorized using cutoffs for Asians. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the association of nutritional status and cognitive impairment among older adults.
Results: The prevalence of cognitive impairment in the study population was 35.65%. This study indicates that older adults with obesity are significantly associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment. In contrast, those with a sarcopenia risk were more likely to be cognitively impaired.
Conclusion: The findings showed that obesity was associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older Indonesian adults, while those with sarcopenia risk indicate otherwise. Future longitudinal studies incorporating dietary quality, body composition, and biomarkers are needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying this relationship and to guide tailored nutritional strategies for healthy aging.
Keywords: Body Mass Index, Sarcopenia, Cognitive Impairment, Older Adults, Indonesia
Topic: Nutrition Science and Functional Food Development
