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Dose-Response Association between Hand Dexterity and Functional Disability: A Longitudinal Study from the Kasama
Namhoon Lim1, Kenji Tsunoda2, Jaehoon Seol2,3,4
1Doctoral Program in Physical Education, Health and Sport Science, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research
|September 8, 2025
Summary
Maintaining good hand dexterity significantly lowers the risk of functional disability in older adults. Simple hand dexterity tests can predict future disability, highlighting the importance of hand function for independence.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Poor hand dexterity is linked to increased risk of functional disability.
- Limited research exists on the relationship between hand dexterity and incident functional disability.
- Community-dwelling older adults are a key population for studying functional decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate the dose-response association between hand dexterity and incident functional disability.
- To identify specific hand dexterity thresholds predictive of functional disability.
- To explore the role of hand function in maintaining independence in aging populations.
Main Methods:
- Study included 1,069 older adults (≥65 years) in Kasama City, Japan.
- Hand dexterity assessed using peg-moving and circle-drawing tasks.
- Functional disability identified via the Japanese Long-Term Care Insurance System database.
- Restricted cubic spline analysis used to examine dose-response relationships.
Main Results:
- Over 8.5 years, 23.2% developed functional disability.
- Lowest hand dexterity performance correlated with significantly higher risk (peg-moving HR=1.92, circle drawing HR=1.66).
- Curvilinear dose-response associations confirmed; increased risk observed below specific performance cut-points.
Conclusions:
- Simple hand dexterity tests are valuable predictors of functional disability in older adults.
- Maintaining adequate hand dexterity is crucial for supporting functional independence.
- Findings suggest interventions targeting hand function may prevent disability.
