Impairments in Individual Autonomous Living Tasks and Time to Self-Care Disability in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

This is an observational study of reported IADL impairment and later ADL disability, not a treatment trial, so it cannot show that helping someone shop, cook, or manage medications prevents ADL disability. ADL and IADL ability were self-reported, and the study did not include physical activity because the HRS physical activity questionnaire was not well validated. Handgrip strength was measured only in the enhanced face-to-face interviews, and data for the 2014 wave could not be concatenated with the 2016 wave because those data were not released. Gait speed was only performed in participants aged at least 65 years and could not be included. Proxy respondents were excluded, and 398 participants were excluded for missing covariates; missing covariates at a wave were excluded from models for that wave. Participants who dropped out or died may have had poorer function, so the reported associations may be underestimated. The authors noted that map reading may be outdated because of global positioning systems and mobile phones, and that the standard binary definition for IADL disability may need modification.

One author reported research funding from the National Institutes of Health, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., RTI Health Solutions, Ohio Department of Higher Education, and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation. The same author reported consulting fees from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Abbott LaborEatories, and the Gerson Lehrman Group, and is co-founder with equity and scientific director of AEIOU Scientific, LLC. The other authors reported no conflicts.

Do not read the reported associations as proof that helping an older adult shop, cook, or manage medications will prevent ADL disability. This was an observational survey analysis, not a treatment trial, and it cannot show that changing one IADL changes the risk of ADL disability.