[Harumanbo Harucheonja] "Degree of frailty in 60s determines health 10 years later"... The answer is strengthening 'Naegae Yeokryang'

Aging that occurs naturally over time is a phenomenon experienced by all living organisms. However, frailty is different. Medically, frailty refers to a state where accumulated aging and diseases lead to functional decline, increasing the likelihood of disability or hospitalization. Even at the same age, severe frailty is generally considered to indicate more advanced aging. The "speed of aging" varies depending on how one ages. Only proactive health management can delay frailty and maintain health.

“Frailty level in mid-60s predicts health status 10 years later”

Professor Heewon Jeong from the Department of Geriatrics at Seoul Asan Medical Center, Professors Jaeyong Shin and Jieun Jang from the Department of Preventive Medicine at Yonsei University College of Medicine, and Professor Daehyun Kim from Harvard Medical School recently published notable research related to frailty. The research team analyzed 968,885 adults aged 66 and found that the group with severe frailty at this age had about a 4.4 times higher risk of death within 10 years compared to the healthy group. Additionally, the risk of developing aging-related diseases such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and falls or requiring care from others within 10 years was about 3.2 times higher in the severely frail group.

The research team analyzed 10-year mortality and incidence of aging-related diseases according to frailty levels over a maximum of 10 years (average 6.7 years). Frailty levels were assessed and measured across 39 items in five domains: medical history, physical and laboratory tests, physical health, mental health, and disability. Based on the degree, participants were classified into ▲healthy group ▲pre-frail group ▲mild frailty group ▲severe frailty group. First, analyzing the 10-year mortality rates for each group showed an increase according to frailty level: 0.79 deaths per 100 people annually in the healthy group, 1.07 in the pre-frail group, 1.63 in the mild frailty group, and 3.36 in the severe frailty group. Aging-related diseases also occurred at an annual average of 0.14 cases in the healthy group, 0.23 in the pre-frail group, 0.29 in the mild frailty group, and 0.45 in the severe frailty group.

Aging stock photo. [Image source=Getty Images]

In particular, the risk of developing heart failure, diabetes, and stroke within 10 years was 2.9 times, 2.3 times, and 2.2 times higher, respectively, in the severe frailty group. The proportion of those requiring care from others due to physical and mental function decline was 10.9 times higher in the severe frailty group compared to the healthy group. Furthermore, the incidence rates of most diseases excluding cancer, such as falls, fractures, and coronary artery disease, were significantly higher in the severe frailty group than in the healthy group. This study was published in the international journal JAMA Network Open (IF=13.360), issued by the American Medical Association. Professor Jeong explained the significance of this research by stating, “Even at the same age, the degree of biological aging, that is, frailty, varies among individuals, and these differences can predict mortality and health status in the distant future.”

Strengthening ‘Intrinsic Capacity’ to Prevent Frailty

Professor Jeong, an active expert in geriatric medicine who published the bestseller You Too Can Age Slowly, continues research related to frailty. Earlier in February, he released a study that attracted academic attention, showing that older adults with reduced chewing function have a higher risk of frailty. Through this study, Professor Jeong analyzed the frailty levels and masticatory function of 3,000 elderly people aged 65 and older, revealing that those who had difficulty chewing food had about 2.68 times higher frailty rates than those who did not. The ability to chew food inevitably affects nutritional intake and diet. The significance of this study lies in the potential use of masticatory ability as an indicator to assess overall health status in old age.

Is there a way to delay frailty? Professor Jeong emphasizes that “management should start as early as possible.” It is essential to begin with basics such as regular lifestyle habits, exercise, smoking cessation, moderate alcohol consumption, and stress management. The concept that comprehensively scores these physical, mental, and social functional elements is called ‘intrinsic capacity.’ Professor Jeong points out that failure to properly manage intrinsic capacity triggers an accelerated aging cycle where biological aging is hastened. The motivation behind his book is his hope that as many people as possible will strengthen their intrinsic capacity sooner. He stressed, “Aging and diseases do not occur suddenly but are shaped by lifestyle habits. Relying on luck leads to the onset of various acute and chronic diseases, which accelerates aging rapidly. Scientific evidence shows that consistently managing intrinsic capacity over decades can maintain a healthy body and mind for a long time.”

Professor Jeong Heewon of the Geriatrics Department at Seoul Asan Medical Center is examining a patient with advanced frailty.
[Photo by Seoul Asan Medical Center]

If frailty has already progressed, management should begin immediately. As people age, they often take multiple medications, so reviewing these is necessary. If experiencing common causes of frailty such as sarcopenia, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, or sleep disorders, it is important to consult a specialist for geriatric medical support. Along with this, Professor Jeong emphasizes raising awareness about frailty and preparing measures to reduce the social burden of care. He said, “Rapid global aging and a surge in populations requiring care are expected worldwide. Urgent social discussions and policy development are needed to prevent and support these issues.”