Research

Mixed

Increases in multimorbidity and frailty indices over an 8-year period are associated with subsequent poorer cognitive function, reduced physical function (gait speed), and increased mortality risk in adults with type 2 diabetes.

For adults with type 2 diabetes, keeping track of the number of chronic diseases and physical deficits (frailty) is a strong predictor of future cognitive decline, mobility issues, and death. However, simply improving these specific counts through lifestyle changes may not be enough to guarantee better long-term cognitive or survival outcomes, suggesting a need for a broader approach to healthspan.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Increases in both multimorbidity and FI were associated with subsequently poorer composite cognitive function and 400-m walk speed and increased risk for death (all p < .001).
Mark A. Espeland et al. · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · 2021

Why this rating

Large cohort (N=3842), long follow-up (8-18 years), randomized trial context, but observational analysis of the indices.

Source

Eight-Year Changes in Multimorbidity and Frailty in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations With Cognitive and Physical Function and Mortality

Mark A. Espeland et al. · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · 2021

DOI 10.1093/gerona/glab342

rct · n=3842Cited 38×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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