Performance-based physical function and future dementia in older people
Wang L, Larson EB, Bowen JD, van Belle G.. Archives of internal medicine, 2006-05-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background The association of physical function with progression to dementia has not been well investigated. We aimed to determine whether physical function is associated with incident dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods We performed a prospective cohort study of 2288 persons 65 years and older without dementia. Patients were enrolled from 1994 to 1996 and followed up through October 2003. Main outcome measures included incident dementia and AD. Results During follow-up 319 participants developed dementia (221 had AD). The age-specific incidence rate of dementia was 53.1 per 1000 person-years for participants who scored lower on a performance-based physical function test at baseline ( 10 points). A 1-point lower performance-based physical function score was associated with an increased risk of dementia (hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.13; P Conclusions Lower levels of physical performance were associated with an increased risk of dementia and AD. The study suggests that poor physical function may precede the onset of dementia and AD and higher levels of physical function may be associated with a delayed onset.
Key findings
- We aimed to determine whether physical function is associated with incident dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD).
- Results During follow-up 319 participants developed dementia (221 had AD).
- A 1-point lower performance-based physical function score was associated with an increased risk of dementia (hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.13; P Conclusions Lower levels of physical performance were associated with an increased risk of dementia and AD.
- The study suggests that poor physical function may precede the onset of dementia and AD and higher levels of physical function may be associated with a delayed onset.
Why it matters
In this cohort of older people without dementia, lower scores on a performance-based physical function test were associated with a higher risk of later developing dementia and Alzheimer disease. It shows an association only and does not show that improving physical function would prevent dementia.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants2,288
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 64/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Archives of internal medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Archives of Internal Medicine: journal h-index 462 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2006 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 2,288 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 329 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 15.0 citations a year over 22 year(s) since 2006 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 17 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 30 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Gerald van Belle: h-index 89 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16717174) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 64 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
May need a subscription Unpaywall, Europe PMC and OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 10 Oct 2026), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Wang, L., Larson, E. B., Bowen, J. D., & van Belle, G. (2006). Performance-based physical function and future dementia in older people. Archives of internal medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.10.1115
Vancouver
Wang L, Larson EB, Bowen JD, van Belle G. Performance-based physical function and future dementia in older people. Archives of internal medicine. 2006. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.10.1115. PMID: 16717174.
BibTeX
@article{wang2006-16717174,
author = {Wang, L. and Larson, E. B. and Bowen, J. D. and van Belle, G.},
title = {{Performance-based physical function and future dementia in older people}},
journal = {Archives of internal medicine},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.1001/archinte.166.10.1115},
pmid = {16717174},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.10.1115}
}
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