Decreased Handgrip Strength Research Articles

Prevalence and risk factors of sarcopenia without obesity and sarcopenic obesity among Chinese community older people in suburban area of Shanghai: A cross-sectional study.

The aim of the present study was to explore the prevalence and risk factors of sarcopenia without obesity (S) and sarcopenic obesity (SO) among community-dwelling older people in the Chongming District of Shanghai, China, according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 Consensus as the diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 1,407 subjects aged ≥65 years were included, where the mean age of the subjects was 71.91 ± 5.59 years and their mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.65 ± 3.32 kg/m2. According to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 Consensus, sarcopenia was defined as a low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (≤7.0 kg/m2 in males and ≤5.7 kg/m2 in females), decreased handgrip strength (<28.0 kg in males and <18.0 kg in females), and/or low gait speed (<1.0 m/s) or poor 5-time chair stand test (5CST) (≥12s). The SO met both the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia and obesity, meanwhile obesity was defined as an increased percentage of body fat (PBF) (≥25% in males and ≥35% in females). Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the risk factors of both S and SO. The prevalence of S and SO was 9.74% (M: 9.29%, F: 10.05%) and 9.95% (M: 13.94%, F: 7.14%). Lower BMI (OR = 0.136, 95% CI: 0.054-0.340, p < 0.001), lower hip circumference (OR = 0.858, 95% CI: 0.816-0.903, p < 0.001), farming (OR = 1.632, 95% CI: 1.053-2.530, p = 0.028), higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level (OR = 2.235, 95% CI: 1.484-3.367, p < 0.001), and a sleep duration <7 h (OR = 0.561, 95% CI: 0.346-0.909, p = 0.019) were risk factors for S. While aging (70-74 y, OR = 1.923, 95% CI: 1.122-3.295, p = 0.017; 75-79 y, OR = 3.185, 95% CI: 1.816-5.585, p < 0.001; ≥80 y, OR = 7.192, 95% CI: 4.133-12.513, p < 0.001), male (OR = 1.981, 95% CI: 1.351-2.904, p < 0.001), higher BMI (OR = 4.865, 95% CI: 1.089-21.736, p = 0.038), higher monocyte level (OR = 4.203, 95% CI: 1.340-13.181, p = 0.014), and a sleep duration >9 h (OR = 1.881, 95% CI: 1.117-3.166, p = 0.017) were risk factors for SO. Our study showed the high prevalence of S and SO among community-dwelling older people in the Chongming District. The SO was more prevalent in males. Behavioral factors and lifestyle (such as farming and sleep duration) were associated more with the development of S, while age and male gender were associated more with the development of SO.

Associations of vision impairment and eye diseases with frailty in community-dwelling older adults: a nationwide longitudinal study in China

AimsTo test whether vision impairment and major ophthalmic conditions are predictive of frailty.MethodsThe analysis included 5321 participants aged 60–95 years at baseline from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study....

Characteristics of frailty phenotype in Chinese nursing home population and significance of motor function indicators in frailty assessment.

The objectives of this study were to analyze the distribution characteristics of frailty phenotypes in older adults of Chinese nursing homes, and to compare some motor function characteristics of older adults in nursing homes between frailty and non-frailty, to determine which motor function and frailty are related. This cross-sectional study included 177 older adults living in nursing homes. Frailty was diagnosed by Fried's phenotype, and motor function assessment characteristics (including muscle tone, ROM, and balance) were also evaluated. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were performed. Frailty prevalence was 53% in nursing homes in big Chinese cities (average age 82.0 ± 6.1). Low levels of physical activity (90.4% in frail elder), decreased handgrip strength (98.9% in frail elder) and slowed walking speed (100% in frail elder) were the 3 main components of the frailty phenotype of frail adults in nursing homes in China. It is worth noting that 74.7% of the non-frail elders also had reduced handgrip strength. Further analysis showed that balance (P < .001), muscle tone (upper, P = .028, lower, P = .001) and the range of motion (P < .001) were associated with frailty in older adults. The frailty of the elders in Chinese nursing homes was characterized by the decline of motor function. And surprisingly, both frail and non-frail elders were found to have poor strength. Frail nursing home seniors also have body muscle tone, range of motion and balance problems. The elderly of China should focus on strength, stretch and balance training to improve motor function, especially strength training, which is important for prevention frailty.

Chronic Loneliness, Gender, and Trajectories of Change in Hand Grip Strength in OlderAdults.

This study examined whether exposure to chronic loneliness is associated with a persistent decline in hand grip strength among community-dwelling older adults in Korea, and this association varies by gender. This study analyzed data from 2,570 adults aged 65 or older collected over the course of 7 waves (12years) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing from 2006 to 2018 (1,403 women and 1,167 men). Exposure to chronic loneliness was assessed by the experience of loneliness over a period of years, and hand grip strength was measured by an objective diagnostic tool. Gender-stratified fixed effects models were estimated to determine whether the association between chronic loneliness and hand grip strength differs by gender while accounting for time-invariant individual heterogeneity. Chronic loneliness was associated with a persistent decline in hand grip strength in older adults over an extended period of time. Gender-specific analyses revealed that only men continued to experience a decline in hand grip strength up to the fifth and subsequent waves of exposure (b=-1.889). By contrast, for older women, a significant decrease in hand grip strength was observed only in the second wave of exposure (b=-0.690). These gendered trajectories were statistically significant. Chronic loneliness impairs the physical health of older adults in the long run. These physical health consequences of chronic loneliness were more pronounced among older men than older women. The study's findings inform the development of interventions that mitigate the adverse health consequences of chronic loneliness.

Risk factors for decreased hand grip strength in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients at the Tabanan Public Health Center II

Introduction: The condition of decreased muscle mass and function in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMT2) will lead to a significant effect on the decline in quality of life. A commonly found manifestation of sarcopenia is the presence of a decrease in the strength of the hand grip. Other research showed a significant inverse relationship between the strength of the hand grip and DMT2. But to date, there are still few studies that assess the factors that cause a decrease in the strength of the hand grip in DMT2 patients. This study aims to evaluate risk factors that are related to the strength of the decrease in the strength of the hand grip in patients with DMT2. Methods: Cross-sectional analytical research. The data was taken through interviews, physical examinations and data collection of laboratory examination results at the general polyclinic of the Tabanan Public Health Center II. The bivariate test used chi-square and the multivariate analysis with logistic regression was used in assessing the magnitude of influence between variables that have a meaningful relationship with HGS and looking for the magnitude of the adjusted odd ratio (AOR) value. Results: The study discovered a strong correlation between age (p=0.002), body mass index (p=0.002), and fasting blood sugar levels (p=0.001) and hand grip strength. In the multivariate analysis, it was found that the relationship of age more than 50 years to the decrease in hand grip strength was greater than high fasting blood sugar levels, while no significant relationship was found on excess nutritional status in this multivariate analysis (p=0.44). Conclusion: Age, body mass index, and fasting blood sugar levels are the risk factors for decreased hand grip strength in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in the Emergency Department for Identifying Elderly Individuals at Risk of Hip Fracture.

Hip fracture (HF) is a major challenge for healthcare systems in terms of increased costs and lengths of stay, and it has been estimated that by 2050, half of the projected 6.26 million global HFs will occur in Asia. Owing to the high morbidity and mortality associated with HF in elderly individuals, it is crucial to recognize at-risk elderly patients in the ED so that special precautions and preventive measures can be taken. While comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) has been shown to improve outcomes and prevent secondary fractures in elderly individuals with HF in outpatient settings, there is a lack of data to identify elderly Asian patients who are at risk of HF via using CGA in the emergency department (ED). The aim of this study is to identify the characteristics of elderly Asian patients in the ED who have an increased risk of HF via CGA. A case-control study was conducted in the ED at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, a medical center located in Taipei, Taiwan, from October 2018 to December 2019. Patients > 75 years old with and without HF were compared using data obtained from CGAs conducted by trained nurses. A total of 85 HF patients (cases) and 680 non-HF patients were enrolled, among whom 340 non-HF control individuals (controls) were selected by simple random sampling. HF occurred more frequently in women and in patients with depressive symptoms. An association between decreased handgrip strength and HF risk, especially in men, was also identified ( p = 0.011). The variables independently associated with the presence of HF in the multivariate analysis were female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 2.229; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.332-3.728) and decreased handgrip strength (OR: 2.462; 95% CI: 1.155-5.247). By performing CGAs in the ED, we found that female sex and decreased handgrip strength were associated with HF risk. Therefore, we propose that targeted assessment of handgrip strength in female patients aged > 75 years in the ED may identify those at greatest risk of HF, resulting in improved emergency care for geriatric patients.

Association between changes in handgrip strength and depression in Korean adults: a longitudinal panel study

Depression in older adults is a global socioeconomic burden. Identifying factors, such as physical activity or exercise that can help prevent depression is important. We aimed to investigate the relationship between changes in handgrip strength and the presence of depression using longitudinal, nationwide data of older Korean adults. Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging were used in this study. A total of 6783 participants who had undergone a handgrip strength test and completed the short-form Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10-D) questionnaire from 2006 to 2018 were included. General estimating equations were used to assess the temporal effect of the changes in handgrip strength on depression. A decrease in handgrip strength was associated with high CESD-10-D scores (β = 0.1889 in men, β = 0.1552 in women). As a continuous variable, handgrip strength was negatively correlated with CESD-10-D scores(β = − 0.0166 in men, β = − 0.0196 in women). Changes in the handgrip strength were associated with depressive symptoms in our longitudinal study. Those who experienced a decrease in handgrip strength had severe depressive symptoms compared to those with unchanged or increased handgrip strength. These findings can be used to guide general health policies for the prevention of depression.

To Find Frequency of Large Fibre Sensory Neuropathy in Diabetes Mellitus and to Compare Hand Grip Strength in patients of DM with and without Large Fibre Sensory Neuropathy

Aim: To find frequency of large fiber sensory neuropathy in diabetes mellitus and to compare hand grip strength in patients of diabetes mellitus with and without large fiber sensory neuropathy Study setting: The study was conducted at Department of Medicine/ Diabetic Foot Care Clinic, Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Duration of study: August 25, 2020 to February 25, 2021 Study design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Total 100 patients with diabetes were enrolled. Patients had their handgrip checked. Handgrip strength of each participant was tested in morning after routine breakfast, with the help of Jammar hand dynamometer. Three readings were taken for each patient with dominant hand and average of these three was calculated for final analysis. Large fiber sensory neuropathy was assessed as per operational definition. Data were entered and analyzed by SPSS v25.0. Peripheral neuropathy was tested by Chi Square test. Data were stratified for age, gender, duration of DM and BMI. Hand grip was compared between groups by t-test. A p-value of ≤0.05 was taken as significant. Results: In this study, 100 patients presenting with diabetes mellitus were enrolled. Among these patients, 68(68.0%) were males, while 32(32.0%) were females. Age range in this study was from 18 to 60 years with mean age of 42.8±11.6 year. Frequency of large fiber sensory neuropathy was 42(42.0%) among cases presenting diabetes mellitus. Mean handgrip strength in patients with large fiber sensory neuropathy was 20.71±2.39 kg and 28.10±5.18 kg among cases without large fiber sensory neuropathy with p-value as 0.0001, which is statistically significant. Conclusion: Long-standing large fiber sensory neuropathy with type-II diabetes mellitus seems to result in a decrease in hand grip strength. This physical limitation may contribute to low productivity in people with large fiber sensory neuropathy among type-II diabetes mellitus. Keywords: Hand Grip Strength, Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus, Large Fiber Sensory Neuropathy.

Effect on Hand Function After Six-week Use of a Wearable Soft-Robotic Glove Assisting ADL: Interim Results of an Ongoing Clinical Study.

In an ongoing study, an assistive wearable soft-robotic glove is tested at home for 6 weeks by subjects with decreased handgrip strength, due to different hand injuries or diseases, to assess whether use of this assistive grip-supporting glove will result in improved hand strength/ function. An interim analysis of the available dataset of 46 participants showed that (unsupported) grip strength and hand function improved after using the soft-robotic glove as assistive aid during activities of daily living (ADLs) during 6 weeks at home. After glove use is ended, this is maintained for at least 4 weeks. Considering that in the current situation the analysis is underpowered, these interim results are promising for finding a clinical (therapeutic) effect of using a soft-robotic glove as assistance during ADLs. If this is the case, this might open up entirely new opportunities for extending rehabilitation into people's homes, while also providing them with assistance to directly support performance of daily activities. Such a combination is becoming available with the development of mature and user-friendly wearable soft-robotic devices. This would enable very high doses of training throughout the day, in the most functional, task-specific way possible, and possibly prevention of learned non-use.

Validity and reliability of handgrip dynamometry in older adults: A comparison of two widely used dynamometers.

BackgroundAmong older adults, decreased handgrip strength is associated with greater risk of frailty, and loss of physical function, mobility, lean mass, and overall muscular strength and power. Frailty is also associated with sarcopenia, for which handgrip strength measurement has been recommended for diagnostic purposes. Specific cutoff points for diagnosis have been identified, but use of different devices may affect measurement. Therefore to assess validity and reliability, we compared the two most frequently used devices, the Jamar hydraulic and Smedley spring handgrip dynamometers.MethodsSixty-seven older (76.2 ± 0.9 years) men (n = 34) and women (n = 33) completed two trials of handgrip strength measurement on sequential days (T1, T2) using both devices in random order. Intraclass correlations were used to assess test-retest reliability, and Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess validity as the level of agreement between devices.ResultsThere were significant (p < 0.001) relationships between devices at T1 (r = 0.94) and T2 (r = 0.94) and strong (p < 0.001) intraclass correlations were observed for both devices (Jamar = 0.98; Smedley = 0.96), indicating excellent reliability. However, there were significant differences between devices. Strength measured with Jamar was greater than Smedley at both T1 (27.4 ± 1.4 vs. 23.4 ± 1.1 kg, p < 0.001) and T2 (25.3 ± 1.4 vs. 21.8 ± 1.2 kg, p < 0.001). Bland-Altman analysis confirmed these differences. Subgroup analysis to evaluate the effect of gender and age indicated that in women and old-old (>75 years) participants, differences between devices were closer to zero for both measurements compared to men and young-old (65–75 years) participants.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that despite excellent reliability, there is poor agreement between devices, indicating a lack of validity. For use as a diagnostic tool, standardization and device-specific cutoff points for handgrip dynamometry are needed.

Recommendations for nutritional assessment across clinical practice guidelines: A scoping review.

CPGs propose several methods and criteria to perform nutritional assessment, a key process to determine the type and severity of malnutrition, which generates variability in clinical practice and outcomes. The aim of the study was to describe the criteria considered by clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for nutritional assessment. We performed a scoping review systematically searching in PubMed, Trip Database, Google Scholar, and Google, until November 5, 2021. We included all CPGs mentioning tools or criteria for nutritional assessment in adults from the general population or with any specific pathology or condition. Two authors independently reviewed and decided on study selection and data extraction. We included 18 CPGs (12 elaborated in Europe). The CPGs recommended heterogeneous criteria for nutritional assessment: 16/18 CPGs included at least one body composition parameter (e.g., loss of muscle mass, loss of subcutaneous fat), 15/18 included history related to dietary intake, 15/18 included clinical history (e.g., weight loss), 10/18 included anthropometric measurement (e.g., low body mass index [BMI]), 11/18 included biochemical criteria (e.g., albumin, C-reactive protein), 8/18 included physical examination (e.g., fluid retention, sarcopenia, loss of subcutaneous fat), 8/18 included functional test (e.g., decreased handgrip strength), and 1/18 included catabolic state. Also, 9/18 CPGs mentioned a tool for nutritional assessment, the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) the most common (8/18). None of the CPGs justified the inclusion of any of the tools or criteria they mentioned. The CPGs mentioned heterogeneous criteria for nutritional assessment. The most commonly mentioned criteria were decreased food intake, loss of muscle mass, weight loss, and low BMI. The most mentioned tool was the SGA. None of the CPGs provided a clear rationale for using certain criteria or tools for nutritional assessment.

Handgrip Strength Values Depend on Tumor Entity and Predict 180-Day Mortality in Malnourished Cancer Patients

Background: Cancer-related malnutrition is a prevalent condition associated with a loss of muscle mass and impaired functional status, leading to immunodeficiency, impaired quality of life and adverse clinical outcomes. Handgrip strength (HGS) is a practical measure to assess muscle strength in individual patients during clinical practice. However, HGS reference values refer to populations of healthy people, and population-specific values, such as those in the population of cancer patients, still need to be defined. Methods: Within a secondary analysis of a previous randomized controlled nutritional trial focusing on hospitalized cancer patients at risk for malnutrition, we investigated sex-specific HGS values stratified by age and tumor entity. Additionally, we examined the association between HGS and 180-day all-cause mortality. Results: We included data from 628 cancer patients, which were collected from eight hospitals in Switzerland. Depending on the age of patients, HGS varied among female patients from 7 kg to 26 kg and among male patients from 20.5 kg to 44 kg. An incremental decrease in handgrip strength by 10 kg resulted in a 50% increase in 180-day all-cause mortality (odds ratio 1.52 (95%CI 1.19 to 1.94), p = 0.001). Conclusion: Our data provide evidence of the prognostic implications of HGS measurement in cancer patients and validate the prognostic value of handgrip strength in regard to long-term mortality. In addition, our results provide expected HGS values in the population of hospitalized malnourished cancer patients, which may allow better interpretation of values in individual patients.

Weak Hand Grip Strength Is Associated with Alexithymia in Outpatients in a Mexican Population.

Hand grip strength has been considered as a possible marker for metabolic and psychiatric disease. To date, however, no research has focused on the association between alexithymia and hand grip strength. The objective of the present study was to investigate the correct association between hand grip strength and alexithymia. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Comalcalco, Tabasco, México. A total of 246 individuals were included. Hand grip strength was evaluated in the dominant hand using a Takei® portable digital dynamometer. Alexithymia was measured using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Two linear regression models adjusted by confounders were used to determine the association between alexithymia and hand grip strength. The rate for positive alexithymia was 39.0% (n = 94). Individuals with alexithymia showed a weaker hand grip strength than the comparison group (t = 2.4, 244 df, p = 0.01). Individuals with alexithymia had significantly reduced levels of hand grip strength (β = −0.39 ± 0.14; p = 0.006); after additional adjustment for clinical variables, decreased hand grip strength remained (β = 8.00 ± 1.86; p ≤ 0.001). Our results suggest that a decrease in hand grip strength could be associated with alexithymia. This measurement could be useful as a predictive marker for the identification of alexithymia in Mexican individuals who attend outpatient clinics.

Effects of the Mobility-Fit Physical Activity Program on Strength and Mobility in Older Adults in Assisted Living: A Feasibility Study.

Physical activity programs focusing on fall prevention often overlook upper-limb strength, which is important for transferring, balance recovery, and arresting a fall. We developed and evaluated a physical activity program, Mobility-Fit for older adults in Assisted Living (AL) that includes upper-limb strengthening, agility, coordination, and balance exercises. Thirty participants (85 ± 6 years) were recruited from two AL facilities; 15 were assigned to Mobility-Fit (three times/week, 45 min/session for 12 weeks) and 15 maintained usual care. Twenty-two participants (11 in each group) completed the study. We compared outcome changes between groups and interviewed participants and staff to explore the effectiveness and feasibility of the program. Among participants who attended Mobility-Fit, knee extension strength increased by 6%, reaction time decreased by 16%, and five-time sit-to-stand duration decreased by 15%. Conversely, participants in the usual care group had a 6% decrease in handgrip strength. Changes of these outcomes were significantly different between two groups (p < 0.05). Participants enjoyed the program and staff suggested some changes to improve attendance. Our results indicate that Mobility-Fit is feasible to deliver and beneficial for older adults in AL and may guide future clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of upper limb strengthening on safe mobility of older adults in care facilities.

Prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and its association with handgrip strength in patients on hemodialysis

Dementia is associated with a high risk of death and hospitalization among patients on hemodialysis (HD). We retrospectively evaluated the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in 421 patients on maintenance HD across nine facilities and investigated whether decreased handgrip strength was associated with decreased cognitive function. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Japan (MoCA-J) score and handgrip strength were measured. The mean age was 69.8 ± 11.2 years, and the median dialysis vintage 74.5 (IQR 30–150) months. The median MoCA-J score was 25 (IQR 21–27), and MCI was confirmed in 245 (58.2%) patients. Both the MoCA-J score and MoCA-J executive score were associated with age, history of cerebrovascular disease (CVA), and handgrip strength after adjustments. We found, among patients on HD aged under 70 years with a history of CVA, a handgrip strength < 90% (25.2 kg in males and 16.2 kg in females) correlated with significantly lower MoCA-J scores. A high prevalence of MCI and decreased handgrip strength were observed in patients on HD. Handgrip strength may be useful for the easy detection of MCI. A decrease in handgrip strength would allow for the early detection of MCI, especially among patients on HD aged under 70 years with a history of CVA.

Prevalance and characteristics of sarcopenia in older patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objectives: To determine the rate and characteristics of sarcopenia in older patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Subjects and methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study on 363 stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients aged ≥ 60 years old examined and treated at the National Geriatrics Hospital and 19-8 Hospital. Study subjects were measured appendicular skeletal muscle with dual energy adsorption radiographs and diagnosed with sarcopenia based on the criteria of Asian Working Group for sarcopenia – AWGS. Results: Average age of study subjects was 70.7 ± 8.3 (years), male rate was 60.3%. The prevalence of sarcopenia in the study group was 45.2%. 74.6% of patients had a decrease in total appendicular skeletal muscle according to height (ASMI), 68.3% had a decrease in handgrip strength (HGS) and 42.7% had a decrease in walking speed. The ASMI, handgrip strength and walking speed decreased with age. Conclusion: The study highlighted a high rate of sarcopenia (45.2%) in elderly patients with stable stage COPD. The ASMI, handgrip strength and walking speed decreased with age. Therefore, it is necessary to screening and early diagnosis of sarcopenia in elderly COPD patients.

Interaction of declined handgrip strength and HIV infection on neurocognitive impairment.

Neurocognitive impairment (NCI) persists among people living with HIV (PLWH) despite the success of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Although muscular waning or decreased handgrip strength has been widely reported to be associated with cognitive erosion in general elders, such association has not been examined in PLWH who commonly experience decreased handgrip strength and NCI. Furthermore, whether HIV infection modifies such association remains to be addressed. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with 2808 HIV-positive and 5402 HIV-negative adults participating in the baseline survey of the CHART (Comparative HIV and Aging Research in Taizhou) cohort, China, 2017 - 2019. HIV-positive individuals showed weaker handgrip strength than HIV-negative controls (34.0kg vs 37.7kg). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that both HIV infection (aOR = 4.35, p < 0.001) and every 5-kg decrease in "Handgrip strength" (aOR = 1.27, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with NCI, and there was a significant interaction between reduced handgrip strength and HIV infection on NCI (aOR = 1.14, p = 0.015). In stratified analyses adjusting for potential confounders, the association between reduced handgrip strength and NCI was significant among PLWH at all age groups but only significant among HIV-negative controls at 30 - 44 and 60 - 89 ages. Handgrip strength decline is significantly associated with the risk of NCI among PLWH. HIV infection may exacerbate the adverse effect of poor handgrip strength on NCI, especially at younger ages. Early detection of handgrip strength decline could facilitate delivery of compensatory strategies or assistive services to PLWH with or at high risk of NCI.

Association between change in handgrip strength and cognitive function in Korean adults: a longitudinal panel study

BackgroundMuscular 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.MethodsOur 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.ResultsAfter 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).ConclusionsThis 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.

Exploring the bidirectional associations between handgrip strength and depression in middle and older Americans

ObjectiveCurrent evidence on the relationship between decreased handgrip strength and depression risk is controversial, and there is limited study focus on the potential bidirectional associations between them. We aim to explore their bidirectional relationships. MethodsThis study used panel data from the Health and Retirement Study involving 17,713 aging Americans (≥50 years old) who participated in at least 2 waves. Smedley spring-type hand-held dynamometer was used to assess the handgrip strength. Depression was evaluated by the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CESD) scale. Time-lagged general estimating equations (GEE) were used to assess the bidirectional association between handgrip strength and the depression risk. ResultsIn the fully adjusted model, every 5 kg decreased handgrip strength was associated with a 6% (95%CI: 3%–9%) increased risk of depression. Compared with non-weakness participants, those with weakness had a higher depression risk (OR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.09–1.36). Conversely, depression might associate with a 0.33 kg (95% CI: 0.09–0.56) decrease in handgrip strength and increased the risk of weakness by 18% (95% CI: 6%–33%). In addition, the results remained stable in the stratified analyses by gender and sex. Interestingly, the above-mentioned associations were also observed in overweight and obese participants. ConclusionsThe present study found bidirectional associations between handgrip strength and depression risk. Our results indicated early interventions for depression and handgrip strength might achieve reciprocal benefits over time.

Sex-Specific Differences in the Effect of Free Testosterone on Sarcopenia Components in Older Adults.

ObjectiveThe association of free testosterone (FT) with sarcopenia and its components is well known in men but incompletely understood in women. We examined the association of baseline FT with the prevalence and incidence of sarcopenia and its components in community-dwelling older adults.DesignCross-sectional and longitudinal analysis from the prospective population-based Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study.MethodsA total of 1,879 community-dwelling older adults aged 70–84 years were enrolled for cross-sectional analysis and 1,583 subjects who participated in the 2-year follow-up survey were included for longitudinal analysis. Baseline FT levels was measured by radioimmunoassay. Skeletal muscle mass, handgrip strength, and physical performance tests were measured at baseline and after 2-year follow-up. Sarcopenia was defined by the diagnostic criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS).ResultsContinuous FT levels was positively associated with the prevalence of sarcopenia in men (odds ratio [OR]=0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.89–1.00)] and women (OR=0.64, 95% CI=0.42–0.99) after adjusting for multiple confounders. In prospective analysis, low FT levels was associated with a decrease in handgrip strength in women (β=-0.61; p=0.010) and a reduction in Timed “Up and Go” (TUG) test (β=0.53; p=0.008) in men after 2 years. No significant correlations were found between FT levels and the incidence of sarcopenia.ConclusionsLow levels of FT may be a significant determinant of decreases in muscle strength in women and declines in physical performance in men after 2 years. Low FT do not predict loss of muscle mass in both men and women.