A Novel Cognitive Frailty Index for Geriatric Mice

Abstract

Loss of cognitive function is a significant challenge in aging, and developing models to understand and target cognitive decline is crucial for the development of Geroscience-based interventions. Aged mice offer a valuable model as they share features of cognitive decline with humans. Despite numerous studies, knowledge of longitudinal age-related cognitive changes and cognitive frailty in naturally aging mice is limited, particularly in cohorts exceeding 30 months of age, where cognitive decline is more pronounced. Moreover, the impaired physical function of aged mice is known to affect latency-based strategies to measure cognitive performances. Here, we show a comprehensive longitudinal assessment using the Barnes Maze test in a large cohort of 424 aged (≥ 21 months) C57BL/6J mice. We introduced a new metric, the Cognitive Frailty Index (CoFI), which summarizes different age-associated Barnes Maze parameters into a unique function. CoFI strongly associates with advancing age and mortality, offering a reliable ability to discriminate long- and short-lived mice. We also established a CoFI cut-off and a physically adjusted CoFI, both of which can distinguish between physical and cognitive frailty. This is further supported by the enhanced predictive power when physical and cognitive frailty are combined to assess short-term mortality. Moreover, the computation method for CoFI is adaptable to various cognitive assessment tests, leveraging procedures akin to those used for calculating other frailty indices. In conclusion, through robust longitudinal tracking, CoFI has the potential to become an important ally in assessing the effectiveness of Geroscience-based interventions to counteract age-related cognitive impairment.