Yang Shijun, Li Jie, Fu Peipei, Sun Yihong, Liu Yang, Zhou Chengchao
Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China; National Health Committee (NHC) Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China; Institute of Health and Elderly Care, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2025 Apr;131:105733. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105733. Epub 2024 Dec 28.
Previous studies showed that physical performance was associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). As the easily measured aging biomarkers, grip strength and gait speed could effectively reflect physical function. However, whether grip strength, gait speed, and the combination of the two were bidirectionally associated with MCI and specific cognitive function domains, have not been explored.
The bidirectional relationships between grip strength and MCI, gait speed and MCI, and the combination of grip strength with gait speed and MCI, were examined by generalized estimating equation (GEE). GEE was performed to further estimate the bidirectional relationships between grip strength combined with gait speed and the five domains of cognitive function, respectively.
In total, 2,227 older adults (3 waves) were included. The MCI risk was higher for low grip strength group (OR = 1.78; P < 0.001) compared to normal grip strength group, as well as higher for low gait speed group (OR = 1.71; P < 0.001) compared to normal gait speed group. Low grip strength combined with low gait speed had the maximum associations with MCI (OR = 4.13; P < 0.001) and decline in orientation, immediate memory, delayed memory, attention and calculation, and language. Older adults with MCI and decline in those five domains of cognition also longitudinally related to lower grip strength and lower gait speed.
The main findings revealed the importance of regularly monitoring grip strength, gait speed, global cognition, and specific cognitive function domains among older people. Early interventions for grip strength, gait speed, and cognition function might achieve reciprocal benefits.
先前的研究表明，身体机能与轻度认知障碍（MCI）相关。握力和步速作为易于测量的衰老生物标志物，能够有效反映身体功能。然而，握力、步速以及二者的组合与MCI和特定认知功能领域之间是否存在双向关联尚未得到探索。
采用广义估计方程（GEE）检验握力与MCI、步速与MCI以及握力与步速的组合与MCI之间的双向关系。进一步运用GEE分别估计握力与步速的组合和认知功能五个领域之间的双向关系。
总共纳入了2227名老年人（3个波次）。与正常握力组相比，低握力组的MCI风险更高（OR = 1.78；P < 0.001），与正常步速组相比，低步速组的MCI风险也更高（OR = 1.71；P < 0.001）。低握力与低步速的组合与MCI以及定向、即刻记忆、延迟记忆、注意力和计算能力及语言能力下降的关联最大（OR = 4.13；P < 0.001）。MCI以及认知功能这五个领域出现下降的老年人在纵向方面也与较低的握力和较低的步速相关。
主要研究结果揭示了定期监测老年人握力、步速、整体认知和特定认知功能领域的重要性。对握力、步速和认知功能进行早期干预可能会实现相互受益。
