Contribution of Cognitive Impairment to Physical Disability in Racially and Ethnically Diverse Adults

Cognitive impairment can be a major determinant of whether older adults experience severe physical decline and disability. Older adults with cognitive impairment commonly have physical limitations like reduced grip strength, poor balance, and difficulty completing daily activities. Cognitive impairment is also linked to accelerated declines in physical functioning and progression to disability in activities of daily living. While epidemiological research has established a relationship between cognitive impairment and physical disability in older adults, evidence for the causal mechanisms behind these associations are still emerging. This chapter reviews evidence on the relationship between cognitive impairment and progression of physical decline and disability, focusing on population-based aging cohort studies in the United States. This chapter highlights research on racial and ethnic disparities in the progression of physical disability among cognitively impaired older adults, describes evidence for causal mechanisms linking cognitive impairment and physical decline, and discusses areas for future research to advance understanding of this relationship in diverse older adult populations.