Peak expiratory flow predicts motoric cognitive risk syndrome: A cohort study

Poor respiratory function, including low peak expiratory flow (PEF), is a risk factor for dementia. Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) is a predementia syndrome characterized by slow gait and subjective cognitive complaints. However, the association between PEF and MCR remains unclear. This study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between PEF and MCR. The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), which is a nationally representative cohort of adults ≥65 years of age in the United States, was analyzed from 2011 to 2017. Logistic regression and discrete-time proportional hazards models tested the association of PEF standardized residuals (SR) at baseline with prevalent and incident MCR, respectively. The models adjusted for multiple sociodemographic and health-related covariates. Among 5328 participants (57% women) included at baseline, lower PEF SR was associated with higher prevalence of MCR. Compared with the ≥80 PEF SR percentile group, the