Developmental Trajectories of Intrinsic Capacity Among Older Adults: Results from the China Longitudinal Study of Aging

Background: Previous studies have shown that intrinsic capacity changes over time and can independently predict adverse outcomes such as mortality and care dependence in older adults. However, explorations of the heterogeneity in the developmental trajectories of intrinsic capacity are limited. Aim: This study aimed to identify potential intrinsic capacity trajectory groups and the factors impacting different trajectory groups among older adults. Methods: We utilized data from 2454 older adults aged 60 and above, sourced from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Our analyses were conducted using growth mixture modeling, chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: We identified four intrinsic capacity trajectory groups among older adults in China: low-level intrinsic capacity (3.2%), medium-level increasing intrinsic capacity (13.0%), medium-level decreasing intrinsic capacity (12.0%), and stable high intrinsic capacity (71.8%). Age was an influencing factor of the medium-level increasing intrinsic capacity, medium-level decreasing intrinsic capacity, and stable high intrinsic capacity trajectory groups. Compared to individuals in the low-level intrinsic capacity trajectory group, individuals in the medium-level decreasing intrinsic capacity group were more likely to regularly exercise and participate in social activity, and those in the stable high intrinsic capacity group were more likely to be male, drink, participate in social activity, and have good self-rated health. Conclusions: Understanding the developmental trajectories of the intrinsic capacity of the older adults can contribute to formulating personalized intervention planning. We identified four intrinsic capacity trajectories in a cohort of older adults in China, which highlights significant heterogeneity in intrinsic capacity development. Our findings suggest that age, gender, exercise, drinking, social activity, and self-rated health of older adults have important effects on different intrinsic capacity development trajectories.