The Role of Different Weakness Cut-Points for Future Cognitive Impairment in Older Americans.
Ryan McGrath, Grant R Tomkinson, Jeremy M Hamm and 5 others
PMID 37634549WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults whose grip strength was below absolute weakness cut-points were more likely to later meet a cognitive impairment threshold.
Body mass or BMI normalized cut-points were not. Using all three weakness categories together was also associated with later cognitive impairment.
Key findings
01Absolute handgrip weakness was associated with 1.62 times greater odds of future cognitive impairment.
02BMI normalized and body mass normalized handgrip weakness were not significantly associated with future cognitive impairment.
03Weakness under all three cut-points was associated with 1.47 times greater odds of future cognitive impairment, while weakness under only one or two cut-points was not.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
This was an observational study, so it cannot show that handgrip weakness causes cognitive impairment or that treating weakness prevents it. Handgrip testing was done only on a rotating half of the sample. Proxy respondents may not have had grip measurements. This may affect who was represented. Cognitive impairment was identified with a brief screening score below 11 on a 35-point test, not a detailed diagnostic assessment. Some classifications may be imprecise. Participants needed at least two observations. People who died soon after interview may have had sudden declines that were not captured. Many covariates were self-reported. Genetic data such as Apolipoprotein E4 were not available.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest. The article is listed as supported by NIH extramural research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that handgrip weakness causes cognitive impairment or that treating weakness prevents it. This was an observational study of older adults, and the normalized grip cut-points were not associated with later cognitive impairment.