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Longitudinal relationships between grip strength, subjective memory complaints and cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults in China

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Abstract

Background

Subjective memory complaints are considered an early sign of cognitive decline. Recent evidence shows that grip strength is an important predictor of cognitive function. However, few studies have compared whether one condition is uniquely associated with cognitive function when another condition is controlled for.

Aims

To explore the longitudinal associations of cognitive function with subjective memory complaints and grip strength in middle-aged and older adults, with a particular focus on whether one condition is uniquely associated with cognitive function when another condition is considered.

Methods

A total of 3,877 middle-aged and older adults (aged 45–92 years) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study reported on their demographic and health status and completed measures of grip strength and subjective memory complaints, as well as a series of cognitive tests, every two years between 2011 and 2015. Generalized estimating equation models were used to assess the relationships between grip strength, subjective memory complaints, and cognitive function.

Results

Grip strength was longitudinally associated with cognitive function (β = 0.021, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.011, 0.030, P < 0.001) independent of subjective memory complaints. In contrast, changes in the subjective memory complaints were not related to cognitive function over time (β = 0.107, 95% CI: − 0.025, 0.238, P = 0.112). Only at baseline subjective memory complaints were associated with poorer cognitive function (β =  − 1.142, 95% CI: − 1.309, − 0.975, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Grip strength might be a more important clinical correlate of cognitive function decline over time than subjective memory complaints.

Discussion

Regular assessment and close monitoring of grip strength might help identify individuals who might be at high risk for cognitive impairment.

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Availability of data and materials

The data were unidentified and publicly available, and institutional review board approval was not applicable.

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Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (72004098); Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (General Office, the People' s Government of Jiangsu Province [2018] No.87); Nanjing Medical University high-level talent introduction program (NMUR2020006); Project of “Nursing Science” Funded by the Key Discipline Program of Jiangsu Province during the 13th five-year plan (Teaching and Research Office, the People’ s Government of Jiangsu Province [2016] No.9); General Project of Philosophy and Social Science Research in Jiangsu Universities in 2020 (2020SJA0302); Scientific Research in Higher Education during the 14th five-year plan (Jiangsu Higher Education Association ([2021] No.16YB009); Nanjing Medical University postgraduate quality education resources construction project (2021F005), Connotation Construction Project of Nanjing Medical University for Priority Academic of Nursing Science (2022-12); and Jiangsu University Brand Specialty Construction Project: Nursing (No. 2020-09).

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Author notes

  1. Lu Tao and Xiaoxiao Wang contribute equally to the study.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China

    Lu Tao, Xiaoxiao Wang, Shiying Gao, Zuoting Nie, Long Chen, Wei Liang, Yaping Ding & Rumei Yang

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  1. Lu Tao
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Contributions

All authors contributed essentially to the work presented in this article. LT, XW, RY: designed the study. XW and LT: performed the analysis and visualization. LT, XW, RY, WL, and YD: contributed to the data interpretation. LT, XW: wrote the manuscript. RY, WL, and YD: supervised this study. SG, ZN, and LC: made the critical revision of the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Wei Liang, Yaping Ding or Rumei Yang.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that have no competing interests.

Ethical approval and consent to participate

The data in this article are derived from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) which is a public dataset. Informed consent was obtained from all individuals who participate in CHARLS.

Statement of human and animal rights

Approval for the original CHARLS was obtained from the Biomedical Ethics Review Committee of Peking University (IRB00001052-11015)

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All participants signed informed consent at the time of participation.

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All participants in CHARLS agreed with their data used for scientific work.

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Tao, L., Wang, X., Gao, S. et al. Longitudinal relationships between grip strength, subjective memory complaints and cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults in China. Aging Clin Exp Res 35, 2101–2108 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-023-02507-7

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