Temporal relationship between handgrip strength and cognitive performance in oldest old people

Abstract

baseline cognitive performance was associated with decline in handgrip strength, whereas baseline handgrip strength was not associated with cognitive decline. Our results suggest that cognitive decline precedes the onset of muscle weakness in oldest old people.

Common Genetic Factors Influence Hand Strength, Processing Speed, and Working Memory

“…Previous studies have reported an association between hand strength and cognitive decline. 6 – 12 Because processing speed is an important marker of cognitive decline, 2 , 4 , 5 previous results showing an association between hand strength and cognitive decline are congruent with the present results. However, the direction of the causal relationship between hand strength and processing speed remains unclear for the following reasons.…”

“…First, a longitudinal study found that a decline in processing speed precedes the onset of muscle weakness as reflected by decreased hand strength. 12 Second, our study had a cross-sectional design. However, measuring hand strength is easy and inexpensive; thus, we believe it can be used as an indicator of processing speed.…”

“…1 – 5 Hand strength is an inexpensive, easily measurable indicator of cognitive decline, such as dementia 6 – 12 ; however, few studies have investigated associations between hand strength, processing speed, and working memory 12 or assessed the genetic and environmental structures of the associations between hand strength and cognitive decline, including cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, and impaired processing speed and working memory. 6 – 12 It is important to determine if hand strength is associated with processing speed and working memory because knowledge of such a relation might help to identify early cognitive decline—before onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia—which could help prevent dementia, reduce health care costs, and maintain quality of life and independence, as some people with cognitive decline gradually progress to mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease. 13 – 17 Additionally, it is worth investigating the genetic and environmental structure of the association between hand strength, processing speed, and working memory because knowledge of this structure could lead to identification of more-specific genetic and environmental factors and thus more-efficient screening methods and prevention strategies for MCI and dementia.…”

“…19 Previous studies have shown that processing speed and working memory are cognitive functions associated with MCI and dementia 1 – 3 and are useful for screening of MCI and dementia. 4 , 5 Additionally, cross-sectional 6 , 7 and longitudinal 8 – 12 studies have shown an association between hand strength and cognitive decline, eg, cognitive impairment and dementia. Therefore, if hand strength is associated with processing speed and working memory, it might be useful in detecting cognitive decline before onset of MCI and dementia.…”

Assesment of Hand grip Strength in Patients with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

“…All these findings proved that pelvic floor muscle strength is the most important etiologic factor of POP. Hand grip strength reflects physical health and muscle function and has been found to be related to functional limitations [13,14].Impaired muscle strength, which is detected by hand grip strength, is a good marker of impaired physical performance and related to many diseases such as pulmonary diseases, neurologic diseases and fibromyalgia. Moreover the hand grip strength has a prognostic value for geriatric syndrome including urinary incontinence, losses in activity of daily living, pain, iatrogenic problems [8].…”