A potential protective role of cognitive reserve proxies against frailty has been suggested in older adults. We explored the cross-sectional association between cognitive reserve indicators and frailty phenotype. Data were obtained from the UK Biobank. We included 31,975 dementia-free participants aged ≥ 60 years (50.7% females, 2.2% frail) who completed a web-based cognitive assessment (fluid intelligence, working memory, visuospatial attention and processing speed, and executive functioning). Frailty was defined according to the Fried’s phenotype (unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity, slowness, and weakness). Participants meeting three or more criteria were classified as frail. Cognitive performance was compared between nonfrail and frail groups, and regression models were employed to analyze the associations between cognitive reserve proxies (education, skill level of occupation, social support, and multiple deprivation index (MDI)) and the likelihood of frailty. Frail and nonfrail groups significantly differed on cognitive function, with frail individuals demonstrating poorer performance on all cognitive functions (all p < .05) except fluid intelligence. Regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for age and sex, a lower educational level (odds ratio (OR) .797, 95% confidence interval (CI) .673–.944, p = .009), having maintained occupations with low cognitive requirements (OR .790, 95% CI .668–.936, p = .006), having less social support (OR .755, 95% CI .631–.903, p = .002), and living in a region with a high rate of multiple deprivation (OR 1.025, 95% CI 1.019–1.031, p < .001), significantly increased the probability of experiencing frailty. Our findings support the relationship between declined cognitive functions and frailty emphasizing the importance of implementing public health measures to enhance cognitive reserve.

已表明认知储备代理对衰老具有潜在的保护作用。我们探讨了认知储备指标与衰弱表型之间的横断面关联。数据来自英国生物样本库。我们纳入了 31,975 名年龄在 60 ≥的无痴呆参与者 （50.7% 为女性，2.2% 为虚弱），他们完成了基于网络的认知评估 （流体智力、工作记忆、视觉空间注意力和处理速度以及执行功能）。虚弱是根据 Fried 表型 （无意的体重减轻、疲惫、体力活动少、缓慢和虚弱） 定义的。满足 3 个或更多标准的参与者被归类为虚弱。比较非虚弱组和虚弱组之间的认知表现，并采用回归模型分析认知储备代理 （教育、职业技能水平、社会支持和多重剥夺指数 （MDI）） 与虚弱可能性之间的关联。虚弱组和非虚弱组在认知功能上存在显著差异，虚弱个体在所有认知功能上的表现都较差 （均 p < .05） 除流体智力外。回归分析显示，在调整年龄和性别后，较低的教育水平 （比值比 （OR） .797,95% 置信区间 （CI） .673–.944，p = .009），维持认知要求低的职业 （OR .790,95% CI .668–.936，p = .006），社会支持较少 （OR .755,95% CI .631–.903，p = .002）， 以及生活在多重剥夺率高的地区 （OR 1.025， 95% CI 1.019–1.031，p < .001），显着增加了经历虚弱的可能性。 我们的研究结果支持认知功能下降与虚弱之间的关系，强调了实施公共卫生措施以增强认知储备的重要性。