Association between sedentary time and information-gathering activities among community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study based on the JST Functional Capacity Index

• Sedentary time was selectively associated with information-gathering activities • No significant associations were found with other functional activity domains • Associations remained after adjustment for age and sex • Sedentary behavior may include cognitively active daily activities in older adults This study aimed to examine the associations between sedentary time and multiple domains of functional capacity among community-dwelling older adults. A total of 109 community-dwelling older adults were assessed using the JST Functional Capacity Index, which evaluates four domains: social participation, information-gathering, new device use, and life management. Sedentary time and physical activity were objectively measured for seven consecutive days using a triaxial accelerometer. Correlation analyses and multivariable linear regression models were conducted, adjusting for age, sex, educational attainment, cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and living arrangement. Among the four functional domains, only information-gathering capacity showed a significant and independent association with sedentary time, which remained robust after full covariate adjustment. In contrast, no significant associations were observed between behavioral indicators and social participation, new device use, or life management; these domains were more strongly associated with cognitive function and depressive symptoms. Sedentary time among community-dwelling older adults may not uniformly represent physical inactivity but may reflect engagement in cognitively oriented activities such as information-gathering. These findings highlight the importance of considering the qualitative aspects of sedentary behavior when evaluating functional capacity and designing health promotion strategies for older populations.