Older adults who adhere to healthy lifestyle behaviours appear to have fewer intrinsic capacity deficits, according to local research.
Analysis of data from a cohort of ≥60-year-olds residing in the Queenstown district showed that Healthy Lifestyle Score (HLS) categories—unhealthy (0–2), intermediate (3), and healthy (4–5)—were significantly associated with intrinsic capacity deficit status (p=0.004). [Nutrients 2026;do:10.3390/nu18060918]
The proportion of individuals with at least one intrinsic capacity deficit was 44.4 percent in the healthy HLS category vs 54.1 percent in the unhealthy category, while the proportion of those without intrinsic capacity deficits was 55.6 percent vs 45.9 percent, respectively.
Increasing age was associated with greater odds of intrinsic capacity deficits (odds ratio [OR], 1.08 per year, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.07–1.10; p<0.001). Among specific lifestyle behaviours, insufficient physical activity showed the strongest association with intrinsic capacity deficits (OR, 2.28, 95 percent CI, 1.66–3.15; p<0.001), followed by insufficient sleep (OR, 1.89, 95 percent CI, 1.50–2.38; p<0.001).
“These findings underscore the importance of targeting modifiable health behaviours to preserve intrinsic capacity and support healthy ageing,” said first study author Dr Jeremy Teng from Alexandra Hospital, Singapore, and colleagues.
More than just avoiding disease
A concept developed by the WHO, intrinsic capacity shifts away from a disease-centred model to a function- and person-centred approach to provide a broader picture of healthy ageing. Intrinsic capacity is the composite of physical and mental capacities and includes six core domains, namely locomotion, cognition, psychological capacity, vitality, hearing, and vision.
“Longitudinal monitoring of intrinsic capacity trajectories enables early identification of declines, facilitates risk stratification, and supports timely preventive or restorative interventions at both individual and population levels,” Teng and colleagues noted.
The authors highlighted the importance of such monitoring in the context of Singapore’s rapidly ageing population. Against this demographic backdrop, identifying effective strategies to improve population-level healthspan is critical to mitigating the strain of increased healthcare use, long-term care needs, caregiver burden, and healthcare costs, they pointed out.
Healthy behaviours matter
In light of the findings, physical activity and sleep are important targets to address intrinsic capacity deficits amongst older adults in Singapore, according to Teng and colleagues.
“Regular physical activity supports multiple domains of intrinsic capacity, including mobility, vitality, cognitive function, and psychological well-being. By attenuating age-related declines in muscle strength, balance, and cardiometabolic health, physical activity can reduce intrinsic capacity deficits that increase vulnerability to frailty, disability, and loss of independence,” the authors explained.
Meanwhile, “poor sleep and impaired circadian rhythms are postulated to be associated with chronic inflammatory states, leading to increased risks of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality,” they added.
Sustained engagement in physical activity and community-based efforts to promote non-pharmacological sleep hygiene practices may therefore support the preservation of intrinsic capacity and contribute to healthier ageing, enhanced functional resilience, and improvements in healthspan within ageing communities, according to Teng and colleagues.
Study details
The study included 1,644 older adults, of whom 808 had no intrinsic capacity deficit. Individuals with vs without intrinsic capacity deficits were more likely to be older (mean age, 74.5 vs 69.6 years). There was no significant between-group difference in sex (56.5 percent vs 54.8 percent female) or BMI (mean, 23.6 vs 23.8 kg/m2).
HLS ranged from 0 to 5 and included the following components: smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, sleep quality, and BMI (Asian cutoffs). HLS was classified as healthy in 28.6 percent of the cohort, intermediate in 41.4 percent, and unhealthy in 29.9 percent.