Asymmetrical Handgrip Strength Is Associated with Lower Cognitive Performance in the Elderly

Abstract

(1) Background: Several studies have reported that handgrip strength (HGS) may be a sign of lower cognitive performance. However, studies supporting an association between asymmetrical HGS and cognitive function are lacking. This study aimed to determine the association between asymmetrical HGS and cognitive performance among the elderly. (2) Methods: The study sample included 2729 individuals aged ≥60 years-old who participated in the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The cognitive tests consisted of the word learning and recall modules from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD), Animal Fluency Test, and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). HGS was measured using a handgrip dynamometer, and asymmetrical HGS was used to calculate HGS. (3) Results: Of the 2729 participants, 53.0% were aged 60 to 69 years-old, and 47.0% were aged 70 years and older. All cognitive performance scores were significantly correlated with asymmetrical HGS in both age groups. After adjusting for confounders, there was a significant association between DSST and HGS asymmetry in both age groups. Contrastingly, a significant association was only observed for the relationship between the CERAD test and HGS asymmetry in the ≥70 year-old group. (4) Conclusions: We found that low cognitive function was associated with asymmetrical HGS in elderly participants in the United States. Thus, asymmetrical HGS may be an important predictor of cognitive deficits. However, further research is required to confirm our results and to establish possible mechanisms.

Role of sex steroid hormone on hand grip strength and cognitive function in the elderly

“…The results show that lower cognitive performance in the elderly is associated with handgrip strength. (69) The results of this study are in accordance with research in Russia which demonstrated that handgrip strength is associated with a high risk of malnutrition, low autonomy, decreased physical and mental function, and risk of death over the next five years. (70) It has been demonstrated that skilled hand movements and control of handgrip strength involve not only cortical motor areas but also higher cognitive performance.…”

The accuracy of different calculation methods when identifying handgrip strength asymmetry among middle-aged and older Chinese adults

“…Both of these HGS calculation methods have been used across different studies [ 9 , 11 , 14 , 15 ]. For example, to explore the association between HGS asymmetry and cognitive performance in older adults, a recent study enrolled 2729 Americans over 60 years of age and adopted the average HGS method [ 14 ], while an earlier study enrolled 17,163 Americans over 65 years of age and used the maximal HGS method [ 11 ]. Notably, the effect of this choice between the use of maximal or average HGS values on HGS asymmetry remains unknown.…”