The relationship between clinical measures of cognitive function and grip strength in healthy older adults
Abstract Background Handgrip strength is considered a surrogate for musculoskeletal strength, however there is emerging evidence of an association with cognition. The specific neurocognitive attribute which best associates with grip strength is unknown. Methods We performed a secondary analysis on b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03629-9 |
| _version_ | 1811215930403848192 |
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| author | James K. Richardson Toby J. Ellmers |
| author_facet | James K. Richardson Toby J. Ellmers |
| author_sort | James K. Richardson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Handgrip strength is considered a surrogate for musculoskeletal strength, however there is emerging evidence of an association with cognition. The specific neurocognitive attribute which best associates with grip strength is unknown. Methods We performed a secondary analysis on baseline data in 49 healthy older adults. Grip strength was corrected for body mass index. Control independent variables included age, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Trails B. Experimental variables included a clinical measure of simple reaction time, and clinical and computerized go/no-go tasks. The clinical Go/No-Go measure was determined with ReacStick, a rod-shaped device which – when released by the examiner – requires the participant to decide within 390 ms whether to catch the device or let it fall to the ground. Results Bivariate analysis demonstrated that age and all cognitive measures other than the computer go/no-go response accuracy related to grip strength. Multivariate analyses showed that following inclusion of the control variables, only ReacStick measures (reaction accuracy/simple reaction time) significantly predicted grip strength, explaining an additional 15.90% variance (p = 0.026). In contrast, computerized Go/No-Go accuracy (p = 0.391), response time variability (p = 0.463), and the control variables (p value range = 0.566–0.942) did not predict grip strength. Conclusion A short latency (< 390 ms) visuomotor Go/No-Go task independently predicted over 15% of grip strength variance, whereas a slower screen-based Go/No-Go task did not. These findings support the notion that declining grip strength likely reflects sub-clinical brain changes as well as musculoskeletal dysfunction, possibly explaining the potent relationships between grip strength, disability, chronic disease, and mortality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:31:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e0038acbc624c19b4f9fb05e4c002ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:31:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e0038acbc624c19b4f9fb05e4c002ef2022-12-22T03:44:01ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182022-11-012211610.1186/s12877-022-03629-9The relationship between clinical measures of cognitive function and grip strength in healthy older adultsJames K. Richardson0Toby J. Ellmers1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of MichiganDepartment of Brain Sciences, Imperial College of LondonAbstract Background Handgrip strength is considered a surrogate for musculoskeletal strength, however there is emerging evidence of an association with cognition. The specific neurocognitive attribute which best associates with grip strength is unknown. Methods We performed a secondary analysis on baseline data in 49 healthy older adults. Grip strength was corrected for body mass index. Control independent variables included age, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Trails B. Experimental variables included a clinical measure of simple reaction time, and clinical and computerized go/no-go tasks. The clinical Go/No-Go measure was determined with ReacStick, a rod-shaped device which – when released by the examiner – requires the participant to decide within 390 ms whether to catch the device or let it fall to the ground. Results Bivariate analysis demonstrated that age and all cognitive measures other than the computer go/no-go response accuracy related to grip strength. Multivariate analyses showed that following inclusion of the control variables, only ReacStick measures (reaction accuracy/simple reaction time) significantly predicted grip strength, explaining an additional 15.90% variance (p = 0.026). In contrast, computerized Go/No-Go accuracy (p = 0.391), response time variability (p = 0.463), and the control variables (p value range = 0.566–0.942) did not predict grip strength. Conclusion A short latency (< 390 ms) visuomotor Go/No-Go task independently predicted over 15% of grip strength variance, whereas a slower screen-based Go/No-Go task did not. These findings support the notion that declining grip strength likely reflects sub-clinical brain changes as well as musculoskeletal dysfunction, possibly explaining the potent relationships between grip strength, disability, chronic disease, and mortality.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03629-9Grip strengthCognitionExecutive functionReaction time |
| spellingShingle | James K. Richardson Toby J. Ellmers The relationship between clinical measures of cognitive function and grip strength in healthy older adults BMC Geriatrics Grip strength Cognition Executive function Reaction time |
| title | The relationship between clinical measures of cognitive function and grip strength in healthy older adults |
| title_full | The relationship between clinical measures of cognitive function and grip strength in healthy older adults |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between clinical measures of cognitive function and grip strength in healthy older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between clinical measures of cognitive function and grip strength in healthy older adults |
| title_short | The relationship between clinical measures of cognitive function and grip strength in healthy older adults |
| title_sort | relationship between clinical measures of cognitive function and grip strength in healthy older adults |
| topic | Grip strength Cognition Executive function Reaction time |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03629-9 |
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