Association between change in handgrip strength and cognitive function in Korean adults: a longitudinal panel study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• Muscular function, exemplified by handgrip strength, is increasingly recognized as a potential indicator for cognitive impairment.
• Previous research suggests an association between muscular function and cognitive health, necessitating further investigation into temporal changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the temporal change in handgrip strength and cognitive function.
• To utilize longitudinal, nationwide data from Korean older adults to explore this relationship.

Main Methods:

• Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) were analyzed.
• 6696 participants with handgrip strength and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) data from 2006-2018 were included.
• General estimating equations were employed to assess the temporal effect of handgrip strength changes on cognitive function.

Main Results:

• A significant association was observed between handgrip strength and lower MMSE scores, with negative coefficients for both men and women.
• Handgrip strength, as a continuous variable, showed a positive correlation with MMSE scores after adjustment.
• Decreased handgrip strength over time was associated with increased odds of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in both men and women.

Conclusions:

• This study establishes a relationship between changes in handgrip strength and cognitive function in South Korean adults.
• Findings from a large, longitudinal sample indicate that a decline in handgrip strength is significantly associated with a decline in cognitive function.