The study aims to examine the association of MCR with cardiovascular risk factors and diseases, and incident cognitive impairment in older community dwellers living in Quebec.

Both subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) and slow gait speed have been independently associated with incident cognitive impairment (1,2). This association is stronger when SCC is combined with slow gait speed compared to SCC or slow gait speed alone, and defines motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR). MCR is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and diseases as well as incident cognitive impairment.

Data collected in the “Nutrition as a determinant of successful aging: The Quebec longitudinal study” (NuAge), which is a Quebec population-based observational cohort study with 4 years of follow-up, were used. A subset of 1113 (age 73.8±4.1 and 51.9% female; 63.5% of initial sample) participants were selected. MCR was defined at baseline in participants free of dementia and motor disability. Cardiovascular risk factors and diseases were recorded. Incident cognitive impairment was considered if the Modified Mental State score was ≤79/100 during the follow-up period.

Diabetes and cerebrovascular diseases are associated with MCR at baseline. MCR is associated with incident cognitive impairment in Quebec older community dwellers.