Abstract
ObjectiveTo study the efficacy of grip strength (GS) as a predictor of cognitive function in a large, nationwide sample of Chinese participants aged 45 years and above.MethodsWe used data from three waves (W1, W2, and W3) fielded by the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Cognitive function was tested biennially and calculated using two categories: episodic memory and mental intactness. Demographics, health behaviors, and medical conditions were considered potential confounders. Using multivariate linear regression models (MLRMs), we examined the association between baseline GS (measure in W1) and cognitive function in W3. Using a generalized estimating equation (GEE), we examined baseline GS as a predictor of cognitive function change.ResultsTotal 9,333 individuals (53.2% women), with a mean baseline episodic memory score of 6.5, mean baseline mental intactness score of 7.2, and aged over 45 years (mean age = 58.6), were selected. The mean follow-up time was 4.0 years (range: 3.3–5.0 years). Using MLRMs and comparing the lowest GS score with the highest baseline GS score, we observed a significant correlation with a higher global cognitive function in both women (β = 1.061, p < 0.001) and men (β = 1.233, p < 0.001). After adjusting baseline global cognition, the highest GS level was still statistically significant in both women (β = 0.543, p < 0.05) and men (β = 0.742, p < 0.001). GEE suggested that the participants in the highest GS quartile had better cognitive performance over time in both women (β = 0.116, p = 0.030) and men (β = 0.143, p = 0.008) than those in the lowest quartile.ConclusionHigher baseline level of GS was significantly related to better cognitive function and slowed the rate of its decline. Thus, it is an independent predictor of better cognitive status in middle-aged and elderly Chinese.
Highlights
Cognitive disorders (CDs), known as neurocognitive disorders (NCDs), are a category of mental health disorders that primarily affect cognitive abilities such as learning, memory, perception, and problem solving
Of the 13,965 individuals, 13,204 individuals with baseline grip strength (GS) was included (269 individuals were excluded because they were less than 45 years old, 203 individuals were excluded for memory-related diseases at baseline, 284 individuals were excluded for stroke history at baseline and 5 outliers were identified for GS at W1)
A total of 9,333 individuals (4,365 men and 4,968 women) were included in the current study after excluding those who did not complete the necessary measurements at W1 or W3 and who were under 45 years of age at W1 (Figure 1)
Summary
Cognitive disorders (CDs), known as neurocognitive disorders (NCDs), are a category of mental health disorders that primarily affect cognitive abilities such as learning, memory, perception, and problem solving. There are no cures for these diseases, identifying predictive clinical signs of cognitive decline and dementia is imperative for the implementation of an adapted care. Grip strength (GS) has been represented as a predictive factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (Rijk et al, 2015), considering that cognitive impairments, AD and other common neurodegenerative diseases, are preceded by a “silent” clinical period that can last longer than a decade. Identifying such “soft” physical signs associated with the progressive decline of cognitive function has important implications in the early intervention for these illnesses
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