Xin Xin, Liu Qing, Jia Shuqi, Li Shufan, Wang Peng, Wang Xingze, Wang Xing
School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
School of Physical Education, Huzhou University, Huzhou, China.
Front Aging Neurosci. 2025 Jan 20;17:1496725. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1496725. eCollection 2025.
This study investigates the interplay between muscle strength, information processing speed, EEG-specific biomarkers, and cognitive function in elderly individuals with cognitive impairments, emphasizing the mediating roles of information processing speed and EEG-specific biomarkers.
A cross-sectional study design was employed to recruit 151 elderly participants. The participants underwent grip strength and 30-s sit-to-stand tests to assess muscle strength, completed the Trail Making Test part A (TMT-A) and the Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT) to evaluate information processing speed, and utilized the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) to gauge cognitive function. Additionally, EEG signals were recorded for 5 min to capture neural activity.
The difference in information processing speed among elderly individuals with varying degrees of cognitive impairment was statistically significant ( < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was observed between the MoCA score and the time consumption of TMT-A ( = -0.402, < 0.01), and a significant positive correlation was found between the MoCA score and the SDMT score ( = 0.609, < 0.01). Grip strength was negatively correlated with the time consumption of TMT-A ( = -0.336, < 0.01) and positively correlated with the SDMT score ( = 0.336, < 0.01). A significant negative correlation was found between the 30-s sit-to-stand test and the time consumption of TMT-A ( = -0.273, < 0.01), and a significant positive correlation was observed between the 30-s sit-to-stand test and the SDMT score ( = 0.372, < 0.01). Additionally, we observed that the α1 power value indicators were significantly correlated with the MoCA score, the time consumption of TMT-A, and the SDMT score (all < 0.01). The α1 power values at F7 + F8 and T5 + T6 were identified as sensitive EEG indicators for muscle strength and information processing speed. The EEG-specific indicators ( = 0.019, 95% CI: 0.003, 0.047) and information processing speed ( = 0.137, 95% CI: 0.096, 0.292) were found to partially mediate the relationship between grip strength and MoCA scores, with information processing speed exerting a stronger mediating effect.
Specific patterns were observed in the EEG of elderly individuals with cognitive impairments, which could objectively assess the risk of cognitive decline in this population. Muscle strength, information processing speed, and EEG-specific biomarkers were closely associated with cognitive function in elderly individuals. The potential pathway of interaction-muscle strength → EEG-specific biomarkers → information processing speed → cognitive function-provides valuable insights into advancing the field of cognitive research in the elderly.
本研究调查认知功能受损老年人的肌肉力量、信息处理速度、脑电图特异性生物标志物和认知功能之间的相互作用，强调信息处理速度和脑电图特异性生物标志物的中介作用。
采用横断面研究设计招募151名老年参与者。参与者接受握力和30秒坐立试验以评估肌肉力量，完成连线测验A部分（TMT-A）和符号数字模式测验（SDMT）以评估信息处理速度，并使用蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MOCA）来衡量认知功能。此外，记录脑电图信号5分钟以捕捉神经活动。
不同程度认知功能受损老年人的信息处理速度差异具有统计学意义（<0.001）。观察到MOCA评分与TMT-A耗时之间存在显著负相关（=-0.402，<0.01），且MOCA评分与SDMT评分之间存在显著正相关（=0.609，<0.01）。握力与TMT-A耗时呈负相关（=-0.336，<0.01），与SDMT评分呈正相关（=0.336，<0.01）。30秒坐立试验与TMT-A耗时之间存在显著负相关（=-0.273，<0.01），且30秒坐立试验与SDMT评分之间存在显著正相关（=0.372，<0.01）。此外，我们观察到α1功率值指标与MOCA评分、TMT-A耗时和SDMT评分均显著相关（均<0.01）。F7+F8和T5+T6处的α1功率值被确定为肌肉力量和信息处理速度的敏感脑电图指标。发现脑电图特异性指标（=0.019，95%CI：0.003，0.047）和信息处理速度（=0.137，95%CI：0.096，0.292）部分介导了握力与MOCA评分之间的关系，其中信息处理速度的中介作用更强。
在认知功能受损老年人的脑电图中观察到特定模式，这可以客观评估该人群认知衰退的风险。肌肉力量、信息处理速度和脑电图特异性生物标志物与老年人的认知功能密切相关。相互作用的潜在途径——肌肉力量→脑电图特异性生物标志物→信息处理速度→认知功能——为推进老年认知研究领域提供了有价值的见解。
