Associations of low handgrip strength and hand laterality with cognitive function and functional mobility – the Yishun Study

Abstract

Background Emerging evidence suggest that in addition to low hand grip strength (HGS), HGS asymmetry is associated with declining cognitive and physical functions. We examined the associations of low HGS and asymmetry with cognitive function and functional mobility in older adults. Methods Cross-sectional data of 330 community-dwelling adults (55.2% women) aged ≥ 55 years included HGS, Repeated Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), and Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG). Low HGS was defined as < 28 kg for men and < 18 kg for women. Participants with HGS above 10% stronger on either hand were considered as having HGS asymmetry. Multiple linear regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic, smoking, education, comorbidity count, physical activity participation, obesity, self-rated health and hand dominance. Results Low HGS, but not asymmetry, was independently associated with lower functional mobility performance (β = 1.3, 95%CI = 0.6,1.9), global cognitive function (β = -10.4, 95%CI = -17.0,-3.8), immediate (β = -2.6, 95%CI = -4.5,-0.7) and delayed (β = -2.8, 95%CI = -5.0,-0.7) memory. Compared to normal and symmetric HGS participants, low HGS in combination with HGS asymmetry was associated with poorer language scores. In participants with normal HGS, asymmetric HGS was associated with slower TUG than corresponding groups with symmetric HGS. Conclusion Low HGS, but not asymmetry, was associated with lower cognition and functional mobility. Associations of combined low HGS and asymmetry with cognitive and physical functions were driven by grip strength rather than asymmetry.

Handgrip strength is associated with cognitive function in older patients with stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease: results from the NHANES

“…Our findings showed that HGS was significantly linked with a delayed learning ability and working memory, assessed by CERAD-DR and DSST, in stage 3-5 CKD patients. From the age over 65 years, a weaker HGS was associated with steeper declines in global cognitive function 29 , especially in memory and language domains in non-CKD without dementia population 30 . After adjustment for possible confounders, low muscle strength was associated with poorer performance in the delayed word recall test, verbal fluency test, and trail making test 31 , which are in line with our findings.…”

Risk factors associated with weak and asymmetric handgrip strength in older Chinese adults

“…Previous studies have reported that there may be several mechanisms associated HGS asymmetry with physical performance, such as muscle mass asymmetry, neurodegenerative disorders (Z. Chen, Lee, et al, 2022), motoric cognitive risk syndrome (Verghese et al, 2019), brain hemisphere morbidity-related dysfunction (McGrath, Cawthon, et al, 2020), overcompensation and deficits in the mechanics due to acute and chronic (Oyanagi et al, 2023). Sleep quality and duration among middle-aged and older adults (Pana et al, 2021), and chronic kidney disease (Yang et al, 2023) were reported to be associated with a loss of skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength.…”

“…However, these risk factors can be partially explained based on existing research results. Previous studies have reported that there may be several mechanisms associated HGS asymmetry with physical performance, such as muscle mass asymmetry, neurodegenerative disorders (Z. Chen, Lee, et al, 2022), motoric cognitive risk syndrome (Verghese et al, 2019), brain hemisphere morbidity‐related dysfunction (McGrath, Cawthon, et al, 2020), overcompensation and deficits in the mechanics due to acute and chronic injuries (McGrath et al, 2022). Thus, physical conditions such as stroke and brain injury as well as loss of muscle mass and strength are risk factors for HGS asymmetry.…”

Low handgrip strength with or without asymmetry is associated with elevated all‐cause mortality risk in older Chinese males

“…A prior study reported that the proportions of individuals with low HGS only, HGS asymmetry only, and asymmetric and low HGS were 16.4% 33.9%, and 12.1%, respectively, using the criteria of maximal dominant HGS < 28 kg (males) or < 18 kg (females) 27 to define low HGS. In the current study, we observed a similar proportion of 33.41% of the overall participants exhibiting HGS asymmetry only, but with lower proportions of low HGS only (5.63%) and asymmetry with low HGS (9.38%).…”