2D:4D digit ratio is associated with cognitive decline but not frailty in community-dwelling older adults

Am J Hum Biol. 2017 Sep 10;29(5). doi: 10.1002/ajhb.23003. Epub 2017 Mar 28.

Abstract

Objectives: To understand the relation between 2D:4D ratio, frailty, and cognitive decline in community-dwelling elderly people.

Methods: A total of 175 community-dwelling elderly people were included. To determine frailty, participants completed the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE-FI). Cognitive functioning was determined using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). 2D and 4D finger lengths of each hand were measured using a scanner. Barthel Index, Lawton, and Brody scale were also completed for each participant to determine the level of daily living functioning.

Results: We did not find any correlations between 2D:4D ratio and frailty measures. We found a significant correlation between 2D:4D ratio and MMSE scores in the women sampled.

Conclusions: We cannot ascertain any contribution of prenatal exposure to androgens to the frailty status of community-dwelling elderly people. We found that reduced prenatal exposure to testosterone in women may contribute to the prevention of cognitive decline in elderly women.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / epidemiology*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / psychology
  • Female
  • Fingers / anatomy & histology*
  • Frailty / epidemiology*
  • Frailty / etiology
  • Frailty / psychology
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Independent Living*
  • Male
  • Portugal / epidemiology