Dynapenic obesity was positively associated with cognitive disorder in older hypertension patients, with physical activity and depressive disorders identified as variables within a hypothesized cross-sectional path structure.
The prevalence of cognitive disorder among older hypertension patients was 15.67%.
Dynapenic obesity was significantly positively associated with cognitive disorder after adjusting for potential confounders.
Dynapenic obesity was associated with lower odds of adequate physical activity.
Adequate physical activity was associated with lower odds of both depressive disorders and cognitive disorder.
Participants with depressive disorders had higher odds of cognitive disorder than those without depressive disorders.
Physical activity and depressive disorders were identified as variables within a hypothesized cross-sectional path structure linking dynapenic obesity to cognitive disorder.
This research suggests that among older adults with high blood pressure, having dynapenic obesity — a condition combining low muscle strength with excess body fat — is linked to a significantly higher chance of having cognitive problems such as memory and thinking difficulties. The study surveyed nearly 9,600 older hypertension patients across multiple centers in China and found that about 1 in 6 participants (15.67%) had cognitive disorder. Those with dynapenic obesity were approximately 42% more likely to have cognitive disorder compared to those without this condition, even after accounting for other health and lifestyle factors. The study also explored possible pathways connecting dynapenic obesity to cognitive problems. It found that people with dynapenic obesity were less likely to get adequate physical activity, and lower physical activity was in turn linked to higher rates of depression and cognitive disorder. Additionally, having depression was associated with a higher likelihood of cognitive disorder. This suggests a chain of effects where dynapenic obesity may contribute to cognitive problems partly by reducing physical activity and increasing the risk of depression, although the cross-sectional design of the study means cause and effect cannot be definitively established. This research matters because it highlights dynapenic obesity — a combination of being overweight and having weak muscles — as a potentially important risk factor for cognitive decline in older adults managing high blood pressure, a group already at elevated health risk. It also points to physical activity and mental health as factors that may sit along this pathway, which could have implications for how healthcare providers think about comprehensive care for older hypertension patients.
An P, Wu J, Zhang Y, Shen Z, Miao Y, Wu J, et al.. (2026). The associations between dynapenic obesity and cognitive disorder in older hypertension patients: a multicenter cross-sectional study.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1893791