Associations between frailty and mild cognitive impairment in older adults: Evidence from rural Chiang Mai Province

Thailand entered an aged society phase in 2000, with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and frailty becoming prevalent among the older adult population. However, no studies have yet examined these issues specifically within rural communities. This study aims to explore the relationship between frailty and MCI among older adults in rural Thailand. It was a cross-sectional study conducted between December 2022 and June 2023. A questionnaire was administered by trained village health volunteers. The survey targeted older adults aged 60 years and above, residing in rural Chiang Mai, Thailand, with those having a history of dementia, depression, and brain injury being excluded from participation. Nine hundred eighty-four participants among the older adults were available for analysis. The mean age was 69.8 (SD 7.9) with 62.2% females (n = 612). The median frequency of exercise was three days (0–7). The prevalence of MCI and frailty among rural older adults in the community was 35.6% (n = 350) and 8% (n = 79), respectively. There were four factors associated with an increased risk of MCI, including age (aOR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.09, p < 0.001), smoking cigarettes (aOR 1.95, 95% CI 1.27–2.98, p = 0.002), feelings of loneliness (aOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.01–2.03, p = 0.043), and the presence of frailty (aOR 1.92, 95% CI 1.10–3.35, p = 0.022). There were two factors associated with a lower risk of MCI: a higher education level (aOR 0.90, 95% CI 0.86–0.94, p <0.001) and engaging in frequent exercise (aOR 0.9, 95% CI 0.86–0.95, p < 0.001). Frailty exhibited an association with an elevated risk of MCI among older adults in rural communities. Enhancing screening through health volunteers and primary healthcare professionals, coupled with bolstering community-driven health promotion initiatives, becomes imperative.