Discrepancies in hand motor performance and executive function in older adults

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Motor Control

Background:

• Cognitive impairment risk in older adults is a growing concern.
• Motor function tests are being explored as early indicators.
• Grip strength and manual dexterity are key motor functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between grip strength, manual dexterity, and cognitive function (Trail Making Test A and B) in older adults.
• To explore if mismatched motor function (strength vs. dexterity) is a stronger predictor of cognitive impairment risk.

Main Methods:

• Study included 77 older adults (mean age 73.4 years) with intact cognition.
• Grip strength (absolute and adjusted for muscle mass) and manual dexterity were assessed.
• Trail Making Test A and B were used to evaluate cognitive function.
• Analysis included a subset with mismatched motor function.

Main Results:

• Manual dexterity demonstrated stronger associations with both TMT-A and TMT-B than grip strength.
• Older adults with mismatched motor function performed worse on TMT-B compared to those with matched function.
• No significant difference was found on TMT-A for mismatched vs. matched motor function groups.

Conclusions:

• Manual dexterity appears more promising than grip strength for identifying older adults at increased risk of cognitive impairment.
• Mismatched motor function (grip strength vs. dexterity) may serve as a robust marker for cognitive decline risk.