The bidirectional associations between sarcopenia-related traits and cognitive performance

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Sarcopenia-related traits and cognitive performance associations are inconsistently reported.
• Causality in the relationship between sarcopenia and cognition remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate associations between sarcopenia-related traits and cognitive performance.
• To infer causal relationships using Mendelian randomization.

Main Methods:

• Utilized National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data.
• Assessed cognitive function via Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DDST), CERAD-IR, CERAD-DR, and Animal Fluency Test (AFT).
• Employed multivariate linear regression and two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR).

Main Results:

• Walking speed, appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), and hand grip strength (HGS) were independently associated with cognitive scores.
• Higher walking speed and ASM causally predicted better cognitive performance.
• Higher HGS was positively associated with improved cognitive function.

Conclusions:

• Lower walking speed, muscle strength, and muscle mass correlate with reduced cognitive performance.
• Evidence suggests a potential causal link and a mutually reinforcing relationship between physical and cognitive health.