Absolute and relative handgrip strength as indicators of cognitive impairment: evidence from the Mexican cognitive aging study
Aim: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a simple, noninvasive measure that may help with the early detection and risk assessment of cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults. This study aimed to explore the relationship between both absolute and relative measures of HGS and cognitive impairment in a...
| Autores: | , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad Pública de Navarra |
| Repositorio: | Academica-e. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Pública de Navarra |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:academicae__::f8b23edc98c117500fe26115c2ff4e71 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2454/56718 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Aging Cognitive impairment Handgrip strength Latin America Muscle performance Relative strength |
| Sumario: | Aim: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a simple, noninvasive measure that may help with the early detection and risk assessment of cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults. This study aimed to explore the relationship between both absolute and relative measures of HGS and cognitive impairment in a nationally representative sample of Mexican adults aged 55 and older. Methods: This secondary cross-sectional study included 1870 participants (58.4% women; mean age = 68.1 ± 8.7 years) from the Mexican Cognitive Aging Study (Mex-Cog). Data from individuals aged ≥ 55 years included socioeconomic, lifestyle, anthropometric, and biomarker information. HGS was assessed using a dynamometer in absolute values (kg) and relative indices (HGS/height, HGS/height², HGS/weight, and HGS/BMI). Quartiles (Q) were created, with Q4 representing the highest performance. Cognitive impairment was defined as an MMSE score of < 24 points. Associations were examined using sex-stratified binary logistic regression adjusted for age, education level, and population density. Results: Women in the lowest quartile of absolute handgrip strength had significantly higher odds of cognitive impairment than those in the highest quartile (odds ratio [OR] = 2.24, 95% CI 1.04–4.80, p = 0.039). In men, significant associations were found for the second quartile of HGS normalised by height and height². Overall, absolute HGS and HGS/height² showed the strongest and most consistent significant association with cognitive impairment. Conclusions: Lower absolute and relative HGS values were strongly associated with a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment in Mexican adults. Due to its low cost, accessibility, and reproducibility, HGS may represent a practical biomarker for the early detection and tracking of cognitive decline, particularly in lowresource settings. |
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