Associations between the level of IGF-1 and geriatric syndromes in nonagenarians

BACKGROUND. The role of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and its levels in aging have been established in clinical and experimental studies. Aging-associated geriatric syndromes underlie functional and adaptive decline in older patients. However, there is insufficient evidence that aging-associated decrease in circulating levels of IGF-1 is associated with geriatric syndromes, particularly in long-living adults. This study aimed to examine the associations between IGF-1 levels and geriatric syndromes in long-living adults.

METHODS. This cross-sectional study included nonagenarians recruited with the assistance of social services, nursing homes, geriatric centers, and other geriatric services. The participants underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, including medical history, geriatric scales, and questionnaires. Blood samples were collected, and IGF-1 levels were assessed using chemiluminescence. The study was approved by the ethics committee (Protocol № 30 dated December 24, 2019). Statistical analysis was performed using the R package (v. 4.2.2).

RESULTS. The study included 3,789 participants aged 90–107 (median age = 92) who met the inclusion criteria. The median IGF-1 level was 99.8 ng/mg (min: 30.8 ng/ml; max: 208 ng/ml). The intergroup analysis showed associations between IGF-1 levels and functional dependence, frailty, risk of falls, malnutrition, sarcopenia, and cognitive impairment. However, after adjusting for physical activity and BMI, a significant association was demonstrated only between IGF-1 levels and cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSION. Our study showed a significant association between IGF-1 levels and cognitive impairment. However, the detected associations require further analysis in prospective studies.

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