Handgrip Strength Asymmetry and Weakness Are Associated with Lower Cognitive Function: A Panel Study

Abstract Background Muscular function, such as handgrip strength, has been suggested as an associated factor for cognitive impairment. This study investigated the association between temporal change in handgrip strength and cognitive function using longitudinal, nationwide data from Korean older adults. Methods Our study used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). The analysis covered 6696 participants who had taken the handgrip strength test and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) from 2006 to 2018. We adopted general estimating equations to assess the temporal effect of handgrip strength change on cognitive function. Results After adjusting for covariates, we observed an association between handgrip strength and low MMSE scores (β = − 0.3142 in men, β = − 0.2685 in women). Handgrip strength as a continuous variable was positively correlated with MMSE scores after adjustment (β = 0.0293 in men, β = 0.0347 in women). The group with decreased handgrip strength over time also showed greater odds for mild cognitive impairment (OR = 1.23, 95%CI = 1.05–1.27 in men, OR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.05–1.27 in women) and dementia (OR = 1.393, 95%CI = 1.18–1.65 in men, OR = 1.19, 95%CI = 1.08–1.32 in women). Conclusions This study identified the relationship between handgrip strength change and cognitive function among South Korean adults. According to our large, longitudinal sample, decreasing handgrip strength was associated with decline in cognitive function.

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451 THE BEST MARKER FOR COGNITION—RELATIVE HANDGRIP STRENGTH, ASYMMETRY OR WEAKNESS?

Age and Ageing ◽

10.1093/ageing/afab118.02 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 50 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. ii5-ii7

Author(s):

V Ho ◽

C Chen ◽

R A Merchant

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Demographic Characteristics ◽

Hand Dominance ◽

Perceived Health Status ◽

Cognitive Limitations ◽

Strength Asymmetry ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction Handgrip strength (HGS) is increasingly used to estimate overall muscle strength. Association between low HGS and cognitive decline has been well documented. Recently, McGrath’s team elucidated a new dimension of HGS asymmetry with important implications on physical and cognitive limitations. It is unclear if these effects can be generalised. The Asian working group for sarcopenia (AWGS) has called for ‘special considerations’ due to ‘anthropometric and cultural or lifestyle-related differences’6. Hence, we aim to investigate if HGS asymmetry is associated with cognition in Asians. Methodology We defined sarcopenia by AWGS consensus: HGS <28 kg for men; <18 kg for women. Asymmetry was HGS >10% stronger on either hand; relative HGS was HGS adjusted for BMI. Low cognitive function was defined as MMSE<26. We compared weakness alone, any HGS asymmetry or relative HGS alone and combination of weakness and HGS asymmetry or relative HGS asymmetry. Each model was adjusted for demographic characteristics, hand dominance, obesity, frailty, physical activity, depression and perceived health status. Results 738 Asian subjects participated. Mean age 70.8 ± 0.2 years, 45.1% males, 82.5% Chinese. More than 50% have multimorbidity. 5.4% were frail. Mean BMI 24.4 ± 0.1 kg/m2. Mean HGS 22.6 ± 0.3. 93 (12.7%) had symmetrical HGS and not weak, 59 (7.8%) asymmetrical and not weak, 321 (43.6%) symmetrical and weak, 265 (35.9%) asymmetrical and weak. Mean MMSE scores for weakness alone, asymmetry alone and combined weakness and asymmetry are 26.6 ± 0.1, 26.8 ± 0.2 and 26.5 ± 0.2 respectively. HGS asymmetry alone was not associated with better cognitive function OR 0.66 (95%CI: 0.30–1.44). Combined asymmetry and weakness was non-significantly linked to worse cognition OR 2.14 (95%CI: 0.79–5.82). We found relative HGS to be protective for cognitive decline, OR 0.31 (95%CI: 0.12–0.78, p = 0.012). Conclusion Our study highlights the impact of ethnicity in sarcopenia research. Our population shows association of relative HGS with cognition. Further longitudinal studies are needed.

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Handgrip Strength Asymmetry and Weakness May Accelerate Time to Mortality in Aging Americans

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association ◽

10.1016/j.jamda.2020.04.030 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (12) ◽

pp. 2003-2007.e1 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ryan McGrath ◽

Grant R. Tomkinson ◽

Dain P. LaRoche ◽

Brenda M. Vincent ◽

Colin W. Bond ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Handgrip Strength ◽

Strength Asymmetry

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Relationship Between Dietary Lutein and Cognition in an Older Adult Population (P14-030-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz052.p14-030-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Krystle Zuniga ◽

Alexandria Turner ◽

Nicholas Bishop

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Older Adult ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Adult Population ◽

Panel Study ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Leafy Vegetables ◽

Cognitive Domain ◽

Word Recall

Abstract Objectives The dietary carotenoid lutein accumulates in the brain, and lutein supplementation has been demonstrated to improve cognitive function in older adults. The purpose of the study was to examine the association between dietary lutein intake and cognitive function in a recent and representative sample of the older adult U.S. population. Additionally, we aimed to identify the major contributors to dietary lutein intake in older adults. Methods Observations were drawn from the 2012 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally-representative panel study of older U.S. adults, and the 2013 Health Care and Nutrition Study (HCNS), which assessed dietary intake via food frequency questionnaire in a subsample of HRS respondents. The analytic sample included 7045 respondents age 50 and older. Cognitive function was evaluated on the cognitive domain of episodic verbal memory, assessed using immediate word recall (IWR) and delayed word recall (DWR). Quartiles of lutein intake were calculated then used to compare IWR and DWR scores in 2012. Descriptive statistics and bivariate comparisons were adjusted for the complex survey design of the HRS and HCNS with results representative of community-dwelling older Americans in 2013. Results The average age of the sample was 65.6 ± 10.3 years old. Leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, dark yellow vegetables, eggs, fruit and other vegetables were significant predictors of dietary lutein intake. Lutein intake was significantly different between quartiles (P < 0.001) with lutein intakes of 720 ± 231 ug/day (Q1), 1468 ± 229 ug/day (Q2), 2394 ± 324 ug/day (Q3), and 5632 ± 3029 ug/day (Q4). Quartiles 3 and 4 had significantly higher IWR and DWR scores than quartiles 1 and 2 (P < 0.001). Conclusions Older adults may benefit from higher lutein intake through consumption of various vegetables, fruits, and eggs, as lutein may specifically protect episodic memory. Further research is needed to identify the mechanism of lutein's cognitive benefits. Funding Sources American Egg Board/Egg Nutrition Center.

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ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HANDGRIP STRENGTH AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN ADULTS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnw162.1461 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (Suppl_3) ◽

pp. 361-361

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Handgrip Strength

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Associations of Handgrip Strength and Handgrip Strength Asymmetry with Depression in the Elderly in South Korea: A Cross-sectional Study

Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.3961/jpmph.20.315 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kyungduk Hurh ◽

Eun-Cheol Park ◽

Yoon Sik Park ◽

Gyu Ri Kim ◽

Sung-In Jang

Keyword(s):

South Korea ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Strength Asymmetry

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The Longitudinal Associations of Handgrip Strength and Cognitive Function in Aging Americans

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association ◽

10.1016/j.jamda.2019.08.032 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

pp. 634-639.e1 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ryan McGrath ◽

Brenda M. Vincent ◽

Kyle J. Hackney ◽

Sheria G. Robinson-Lane ◽

Brian Downer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Longitudinal Associations

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Handgrip Strength Asymmetry and Weakness Are Associated With Future Morbidity Accumulation in Americans

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research ◽

10.1519/jsc.0000000000004166 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽

Author(s):

Lukus Klawitter ◽

Brenda M. Vincent ◽

Bong-Jin Choi ◽

Joseph Smith ◽

Kimberly D. Hammer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Handgrip Strength ◽

Strength Asymmetry

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Genetic and Environmental Basis in Phenotype Correlation Between Physical Function and Cognition in Aging Chinese Twins

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1017/thg.2016.98 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 60-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Chunsheng Xu ◽

Dongfeng Zhang ◽

Xiaocao Tian ◽

Yili Wu ◽

Zengchang Pang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Physical Function ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Bivariate Analysis ◽

Environmental Correlation ◽

Number Of Teeth ◽

Near Visual Acuity

Although the correlation between cognition and physical function has been well studied in the general population, the genetic and environmental nature of the correlation has been rarely investigated. We conducted a classical twin analysis on cognitive and physical function, including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), handgrip strength, five-times-sit-to-stand test (FTSST), near visual acuity, and number of teeth lost in 379 complete twin pairs. Bivariate twin models were fitted to estimate the genetic and environmental correlation between physical and cognitive function. Bivariate analysis showed mildly positively genetic correlations between cognition and FEV1, rG = 0.23 [95% CI: 0.03, 0.62], as well as FVC, rG = 0.35 [95% CI: 0.06, 1.00]. We found that FTSST and cognition presented very high common environmental correlation, rC = -1.00 [95% CI: -1.00, -0.57], and low but significant unique environmental correlation, rE = -0.11 [95% CI: -0.22, -0.01], all in the negative direction. Meanwhile, near visual acuity and cognition also showed unique environmental correlation, rE = 0.16 [95% CI: 0.03, 0.27]. We found no significantly genetic correlation for cognition with handgrip strength, FTSST, near visual acuity, and number of teeth lost. Cognitive function was genetically related to pulmonary function. The FTSST and cognition shared almost the same common environmental factors but only part of the unique environmental factors, both with negative correlation. In contrast, near visual acuity and cognition may positively share part of the unique environmental factors.

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