Intrinsic capacity declines in community-dwelling older US adults
In 5,834 community-dwelling older Americans, intrinsic capacity scores showed progressive age-related decline and were lower in females than in males.
In an observational study, researchers analysed survey data from 5,834 community-dwelling older adults in the United States collected in 2022. They evaluated intrinsic capacity, a World Health Organization measure that combines physical and mental abilities across cognition, movement, vitality, psychological health, vision, and hearing. The team also built a related screening tool. Higher capacity scores were associated with younger age, higher education, and higher income. Rates of multiple illnesses, frailty, and difficulty with daily tasks rose steadily from the highest to the lowest score quartiles. Age-specific reference curves showed a progressive decline with older age, with females having lower scores than males.
Why it matters
Defining reference curves for intrinsic capacity provides baseline data on how combined physical and mental abilities vary across older age groups in the US. These standards offer a foundation for future research on healthy aging, frailty, and disability.
Caveats
The study analysed cross-sectional data from a single survey round, so it compares different age groups at one moment rather than following individuals over time. The findings also reflect only community-dwelling older adults in the US.
The paper
Intrinsic Capacity in a Nationally Representative US Population
Marcus Institute for Aging Research
The Journals of Gerontology, Series A, 9 Oct 2026
