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Understanding temporal changes in intrinsic capacity: analysis of domain-specific intrinsic capacity using SHARE data

delete2026-08-03
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OA
AI
R
Roy Tzemah-Shahar *
K
Khalit Iktilat
B
Benjamin Seligman
DOI:10.1007/s11357-026-02456-9delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Global population aging challenges acute, disease-centric healthcare models and highlights the need for functional markers of aging. The World Health Organization’s intrinsic capacity (IC) framework, encompassing cognition, vitality, locomotion, psychological well-being, and sensory function, provides a multidimensional measure of functional reserve. However, most longitudinal studies have collapsed IC into a single score, limiting insight into domain-specific trajectories and interrelationships. In this longitudinal cohort study, we examined 7-year changes in composite and domain-specific IC scores, stratified by age and sex, and assessed associations between changes across domains among community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and older participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The analytic sample included 27,107 participants (56.5% women; mean age 65.1 ± 8.2 years) with complete IC data at baseline (Wave 6, 2015) and follow-up (Wave 9, 2022). IC was operationalized as a 0–50 composite score derived from five domains, each standardized to a 0–10 scale using SHARE-specific measures. Over 7 years, composite IC declined statistically significantly (mean difference − 1.57 points; 95% CI − 1.63 to − 1.50; p < 0.001), with greater decline in men than women (− 1.71 vs − 1.46; p < 0.001). Locomotion domain contributed most to overall decline across age groups. Changes in vitality were moderately correlated with changes in locomotion (r≈0.30) and psychological well-being (r≈0.25), suggesting that vitality may function as a physiological node linking physical and psychological domains. These findings demonstrate that IC declines progressively from midlife, with steeper trajectories in men, and support domain-specific monitoring to better characterize age-related functional decline.
Keywords:
Aging
Resilience
Locomotion
Midlife

Journal

GeroScience cover
GeroScience
IF:
5.4
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2.4K
Citations:
6.3K

Organization

F
Faculty of Health and Social Welfare
Scholars:
8
Papers: 3
Citations: 0
D
David Geffen School of Medicine
Scholars:
446
Papers: 186
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G
Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
Scholars:
156
Papers: 55
Citations: 0
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