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Published on: June 4, 2020
Handgrip Strength Predicts Longitudinal Changes in Clock Drawing Test Performance. An Observational Study in a Sample
G Viscogliosi1, M G Di Bernardo, E Ettorre
1Giovanni Viscogliosi; Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100, Rome, Italy. giovanni.viscogliosi@libero.it. +393398240918.
Objective:
Impairment of physical performance might identify older people at higher risk of dementia over time. The present study evaluated handgrip strength as independent predictor of cognitive decline.
Design:
Observational, prospective. Follow-up duration: 11.2 ± 0.8 months.
Setting And Participants:
Geriatric outpatients center. 104 consecutive stroke- and dementia-free older adults (44% men, ages 80.2 ± 5.4 years).
Methods:
The Clinical Dementia Rating scale and the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) were administered. Handgrip strength was assessed using a Jamar hand dynamometer. Brain magnetic resonance imaging studies at 1.5 T were performed. White matter damage was expressed as severity of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). Longitudinal changes in cognitive function were expressed as 1-year decline in CDT performance.
Results:
A robust association was observed between baseline handgrip strength and 1-year cognitive decline after multiple adjustment. Of note, the strength of such association was only minimally attenuated after adjusting for deep WMHs extent (β coefficient for handgrip strength = 0.183, SE= 0.038, p= 0.007, R2= 0.58).
Conclusions:
Handgrip strength predicted accelerated 1-year decline in cognitive function, assessed by CDT, in a sample of older adults. Future studies are needed to elucidate the causal mechanisms linking limitations in physical function with dementia risk.
