Gallardo Gómez, DanielÁlvarez Barbosa, FranciscoAlfonso Rosa, Rosa M.Ramos Munell, JavierSaco Ledo, GonzaloChastin, SebastienLucía Mulas, AlejandroPozo Cruz, Jesús delPozo Cruz, Borja del2026-07-142026-07-142026Gallardo-Gómez, D., Álvarez-Barbosa, F., Alfonso Rosa, R. M., Ramos-Munell, J., Saco-Ledo, G., Chastin, S., Lucia, A., Del Pozo-Cruz, J., & Del Pozo Cruz, B. (2026). Physical function, life expectancy, and cognitive impairment in older adults: A 12-year longitudinal cohort study. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 27(6), 106182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2026.1061821525-86101538-9375https://hdl.handle.net/11268/17267Preventing dementia is crucial due to its current and projected global prevalence. Older adults with cognitive impairment/dementia have worse physical function than healthy individuals. However, it is important to quantify the association between performance-based physical function and life expectancy. This study aimed to assess how performance-based physical function affects life expectancy in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Maintaining good physical function in older adults is associated with increased life expectancy free of MCI or dementia, and may extend life without dementia in persons with MCI. These findings underscore the importance of promoting active aging to mitigate the burden of cognitive decline.engCiencias del Deportejournal article10.1016/j.jamda.2026.106182embargoed accessCiencias médicasGerontologíaPolítica de la saludGoal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all agesGoal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countriesGoal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable