Frailty and intrinsic capacity: integrating complementary concepts to promote healthy ageing and transformation of care
Issued Date
2026-05-01
Resource Type
ISSN
00020729
eISSN
14682834
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105039438139
Journal Title
Age and Ageing
Volume
55
Issue
5
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Age and Ageing Vol.55 No.5 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Cesari M., Canevelli M., Amuthavalli Thiyagarajan J., Arai H., Assantachai P., Chan P., Chhetri J.K., Ferriolli E., Geffen L., Gregson C.L., Guaraldi G., Gutierrez Robledo L.M., Hammami S., Jang H., Kalula S., Mathur A., Merchant R.A., Oliveira D., Perracini M.R., Petrovic M., Polidori-Nelles M.C., Rodriguez Mañas L., Rowe J.W., Sabzwari S., Sadana R., Sumi Y., Tomarevska O., Vellas B., Visvanathan R., Woo J., Martin F.C. Frailty and intrinsic capacity: integrating complementary concepts to promote healthy ageing and transformation of care. Age and Ageing Vol.55 No.5 (2026). doi:10.1093/ageing/afag138 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/116962
Title
Frailty and intrinsic capacity: integrating complementary concepts to promote healthy ageing and transformation of care
Author(s)
Cesari M.
Canevelli M.
Amuthavalli Thiyagarajan J.
Arai H.
Assantachai P.
Chan P.
Chhetri J.K.
Ferriolli E.
Geffen L.
Gregson C.L.
Guaraldi G.
Gutierrez Robledo L.M.
Hammami S.
Jang H.
Kalula S.
Mathur A.
Merchant R.A.
Oliveira D.
Perracini M.R.
Petrovic M.
Polidori-Nelles M.C.
Rodriguez Mañas L.
Rowe J.W.
Sabzwari S.
Sadana R.
Sumi Y.
Tomarevska O.
Vellas B.
Visvanathan R.
Woo J.
Martin F.C.
Canevelli M.
Amuthavalli Thiyagarajan J.
Arai H.
Assantachai P.
Chan P.
Chhetri J.K.
Ferriolli E.
Geffen L.
Gregson C.L.
Guaraldi G.
Gutierrez Robledo L.M.
Hammami S.
Jang H.
Kalula S.
Mathur A.
Merchant R.A.
Oliveira D.
Perracini M.R.
Petrovic M.
Polidori-Nelles M.C.
Rodriguez Mañas L.
Rowe J.W.
Sabzwari S.
Sadana R.
Sumi Y.
Tomarevska O.
Vellas B.
Visvanathan R.
Woo J.
Martin F.C.
Author's Affiliation
Universidade de São Paulo
Sapienza Università di Roma
Universiteit Gent
University of Bristol
Universität zu Köln
University of Cape Town
Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Uniklinik Köln
Mailman School of Public Health
The Aga Khan University
CHU de Toulouse
Siriraj Hospital
Universidad Andrés Bello
National University Hospital
Université de Monastir
Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University
Adelaide Medical School
National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology
SA Health
CERPOP - Centre d'Epidémiologie et de Recherche en Santé des Populations
Universidade Cidade de São Paulo
Institute of Gerontology Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine
Dr. Sampurnanand Medical College
Instituto Nacional de Geriatría
Biomedical Research and Training Institute Harare
Instituto Milenio para la Investigación del Cuidado
Nepalese Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Jockey Club Institute of Ageing
Hospital Universitario de Getafe
Sapienza Università di Roma
Universiteit Gent
University of Bristol
Universität zu Köln
University of Cape Town
Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Uniklinik Köln
Mailman School of Public Health
The Aga Khan University
CHU de Toulouse
Siriraj Hospital
Universidad Andrés Bello
National University Hospital
Université de Monastir
Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University
Adelaide Medical School
National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology
SA Health
CERPOP - Centre d'Epidémiologie et de Recherche en Santé des Populations
Universidade Cidade de São Paulo
Institute of Gerontology Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine
Dr. Sampurnanand Medical College
Instituto Nacional de Geriatría
Biomedical Research and Training Institute Harare
Instituto Milenio para la Investigación del Cuidado
Nepalese Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Jockey Club Institute of Ageing
Hospital Universitario de Getafe
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
As the global population ages, especially in low- and middle-income countries, there is an urgent need to rethink how health in older age is understood and addressed. Frailty has long served as a clinical construct to identify vulnerability and guide tailored, specialist care for older people. In 2015, the World Health Organisation introduced the concept of intrinsic capacity (IC) as part of its healthy ageing framework, offering a structured, capacity-based approach to promote functional ability. While conceptually distinct, frailty and IC are complementary. Frailty highlights the need for specialised care in complex cases, whereas IC supports early intervention and prevention across broader populations. This paper explores their differences, areas of overlap and how their integration can support a continuum of care that spans primary to specialist settings. Integrating these concepts connects prevention, health promotion and complex care management. By aligning clinical and public health perspectives, the combined use of frailty and IC offers a holistic, person-centred approach to care system transformation, with the potential to drive coordinated strategies that strengthen both geriatric practice and public health across diverse populations.