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Published on: July 5, 2017
Association Between Lower-Limb Muscle Quality, Cognitive Function and Sarcopenia in Older Adults: Cross-Sectional
Arthur N Arrieiro1,2, Redha Taiar3, Luana A Soares1,4
1Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina 39100-000, MG, Brazil.
Background/Objectives:
This cross-sectional study evaluated associations between physical function, cognitive function, sarcopenia, and the lower-limb Muscle Quality Index (MQI) in older adults.
Methods:
Patients with various MQIs (strength-to-mass ratios) were stratified into two groups. Physical-muscular aspects were assessed using body mass index (BMI), a Simple Questionnaire to Rapidly Diagnose Sarcopenia (SARC-F), and handgrip strength. Cognitive aspects were assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Trail Making Test, Stroop Test, verbal fluency, and dual-task performance. Seventy-nine older adults (73 ± 9 years) of both sexes completed the tests.
Results:
BMI, SARC-F, handgrip strength, MMSE, Stroop Test (L1), semantic verbal fluency (animals), and dual-task outcomes differed between MQI groups (p ≤ 0.05) and were associated with MQI in regression analyses. In the adjusted model, BMI, handgrip strength, and dual-task walking time were independently associated with MQI (adjusted R2 = 0.514).
Conclusion:
Lower-limb MQI was associated with markers of sarcopenia and cognitive/dual-task performance in community-dwelling older adults.
