## 3 Results  
Descriptive characteristics of the participants are shown in Table 1 for all participants together (n = 175) and separately by sex (n = 137 women, 78%). The majority of the participants were either married or cohabiting (69.14%), had completed primary education orhad lower educational attainment (80.56%), and the average BMI was 29.80 \(\pm\) 4.78 kg/m\({}^{2}\). Descriptive statistics for the variables examined in the current research work indicated that the TUG duration was 7.09 \(\pm\) 1.53 s. The handgrip strength was 25.59 \(\pm\) 8.12 kg. The balance confidence measured with ABC showed 76.27 \(\pm\) 21.61 points as the score total. Finally, as an independent variable, the gait speed showed 2.283 \(\pm\) 0.50 s in the 4 m walking test. Regarding the dependent variables, the score total of the MMSE, which served as a global indicator of cognitive function, averaged 25.95 \(\pm\) 3.01, falling within the range indicative of possible MCI. The total numbers of words given for the phonologic and semantic fluency from the COWAT were 32.07 \(\pm\) 12.69 and 31.75 \(\pm\) 10.25, respectively. Regarding language measured with BNT, the total correct score was 10.45 \(\pm\) 2.86. Table 2 displays the bivariate analysis, which demonstrated that the dependent variables in this study (namely, the MMSE as a screener for MCI, phonologic and semantic fluency, and language) significantly positively correlated with educational level. When analyzing the MMSE score, significant negative associations with the TUG and gait speed were also found. When more words were given in the phonologic fluency test, a correlation between an increase in the handgrip strength and a higher score in confidence balance was observed. When analyzing the semantic phonologic and language results, significant negative correlations were also found with the TUG and gait speed. Furthermore, handgrip strength and ABC showed a positive correlation with semantic fluency and language. Regarding the covariates incorporated in the analysis, sex showed correlations with phonologic and semantic fluency and language. Furthermore, age was observed in correlations with the MMSE score, semantic fluency, and language. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Characteristics**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Total (n = 175)**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Men (n = 38)**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Women (n = 137)**} \\ \hline  & Mean & SD & Mean & SD & Mean & SD \\ \hline Age (years) & 66.64 & 5.58 & 64.98 & 4.84 & 67.11 & 5.70 \\ BMI (kg/m\({}^{2}\)) & 29.80 & 4.78 & 30.14 & 3.93 & 29.71 & 5.01 \\ \hline  & N & Percentage & N & Percentage & N & Percentage \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Occupational status} & Retired & 150 & 85.71 & 26 & 69.42 & 124 & 94.51 \\  & Working & 6 & 3.42 & 4 & 10.52 & 2 & 1.46 \\  & Unemployed & 19 & 10.87 & 8 & 10.06 & 11 & 4.03 \\  & Single & 5 & 2.85 & 4 & 10.52 & 1 & 0.73 \\  & Married/cohabiting & 121 & 69.14 & 7 & 18.42 & 114 & 83.21 \\  & Separated/divorced/widowed & 49 & 28.01 & 27 & 71.06 & 22 & 16.06 \\  & No formal education & 60 & 34.28 & 12 & 31.58 & 48 & 35.03 \\  & Primary education & 81 & 46.28 & 17 & 44.75 & 64 & 46.71 \\ Educational level & Secondary education & 24 & 17.51 & 6 & 15.78 & 18 & 13.13 \\  & University & 10 & 5.71 & 3 & 7.89 & 7 & 5.13 \\ \hline  & Mean & SD & Mean & SD & Mean & SD \\ \hline MMSE (score) & 25.93 & 3.01 & 26.47 & 2.44 & 25.78 & 3.15 \\ Phonologic fluency (w) & 32.07 & 12.69 & 37.05 & 12.19 & 30.70 & 12.51 \\ Semantic fluency (w) & 31.75 & 10.25 & 34.79 & 13.65 & 30.90 & 8.98 \\ Language (score) & 10.45 & 2.86 & 11.79 & 2.50 & 10.08 & 2.85 \\ TUG (s) & 7.09 & 1.53 & 6.77 & 1.47 & 7.17 & 1.55 \\ Handgrip strength (kg) & 25.59 & 8.12 & 37.77 & 7.28 & 22.21 & 4.14 \\ ABC (score) & 76.27 & 21.61 & 83.77 & 17.45 & 74.20 & 22.25 \\ Gait speed (s) & 2.283 & 0.50 & 2.09 & 0.46 & 2.33 & 0.51 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} ABC: Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale. BMI: body mass index. MMSE: Mini-Mental State Examination. TUG: Timed Up-and-Go Test.  
\end{table}