Weak Grip Strength and Cognition Predict Functional Limitation in Older Europeans

Abstract

Objectives To estimate the effects of baseline grip strength and cognition on the trajectory of functional limitation over time. Design Longitudinal study of older adults participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Setting Urban and rural households in 11 European countries and Israel. Participants Individuals aged 50 and older from SHARE (2004–2015) (N=14,073; 52.5% female). Measurements Outcomes were functional limitation scores from five panel wave. Main exposure variables were grip strength and cognitive measures including memory, verbal fluency, and numeracy at baseline. Basic demographic characteristics, life habits, and health status were considered as potential confounders. Mixed‐effect linear regression models were fitted. Results Functional limitation increased significantly over time (follow‐up range 0.9–11.6 years) (β = 0.051, P < .001). Mixed‐effect linear regression models identified significant interactions between grip strength (β = −0.001, P < .001), numeracy (β = −0.012, P < .001), verbal fluency (β = −0.003, P < .001), word recall (β = −0.006, P < .001) and time on functional limitation. Conclusion Stronger baseline grip strength and better cognition predicted a slower rate of increase in functional limitation over time in older adults. Grip strength and cognitive function appeared to be useful indicators of the functional limitation process and attested to their value in monitoring functional change in European older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:93–99, 2019.

A Prospective Study on the Association Between Grip Strength and Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese Participants

“…Our findings are similar to those of previous studies, which demonstrated that GS could predict cognition over time (Stijntjes et al, 2016; Jeong and Kim, 2018; Wang et al, 2019), for instance, Veronese et al (2016) found that lower handgrip strength could predict incident cognitive decline in a population of 1,249 elderly community dwellers over a period of 4.4 years. However, there were studies that reported results contrary to our findings, for example, a 6-year follow-up study by Atkinson et al (2010) revealed that there was no significant association between physical performance (such as gait, balance, and GS) and cognitive changes in 1,793 elderly women.…”

Spousal Concordance in the Development of Functional Limitations Among Married Adults in China

“…The World Health Organization reports that developing and maintaining functional ability that enables an individual's dignity and well-being in older age represents a top priority for healthy aging. 1 However, functional limitation, a substantial impairment in a person's ability to effectively perform main daily tasks (such as mobility and personal hygiene), [2][3][4] is still an increasingly common experience in later life and becomes a significant public health concern worldwide. Extensive studies have documented negative consequences associated with functional limitation, such as depression, 5 cognitive impairment, 6 reduced quality of life, 7 increased health care use and cost, 8,9 and morbidity and mortality, [10][11][12] which can impose a heavy burden on families and society.…”

Association between coffee consumption and functional disability in older US adults

“…Decaffeinated coffee contains many non-caffeine compounds, such as chlorogenic acid and diterpenoids. Chlorogenic acid, as the most common compounds, improves many aspects of cognition such as sustained attention, reaction time and alertness (29) ; those ability was essential for older adults to maintain their physical function (30) . Therefore, the beneficial effects of decaffeinated coffee might be partially due to chlorogenic acid which enhanced sustained attention and reaction time.…”