Skip to main content

Table 2 Associations between grip strength levels/changes from midlife and brain health and cognitive measures at 69–71

From: Grip strength from midlife as an indicator of later-life brain health and cognition: evidence from a British birth cohort

 

Max grip at 53 (n = 416)

Max grip at 60-64 (n = 406)

Max grip at 69 (n = 422)

Change in grip from 53 to 69 (n = 393)

Brain health measures

 WBV (cm3)

M:

0.10 (-5.91, 6.10)

5.89* (1.22, 10.56)

5.59* (0.90, 10.29)

-5.72 (-11.76, 0.32)

F:

7.95* (1.61, 14.30)

3.15 (-2.84, 9.14)

 Global WMHV (mL)

1.10 (1.00, 1.21)

1.12 (1.00, 1.25)

1.04 (0.93, 1.16)

1.10 (1.00, 1.22)

Cognitive measures

 PACC (z-score)

0.02 (-0.04, 0.08)

-0.02 (-0.09, 0.04)

-0.06 (-0.13, 0.00)

0.05 (-0.01, 0.11)

 Matrix reasoning (z-score)‡

0.07 (-0.01, 0.16)

0.12† (0.04, 0.21)

0.06 (-0.05, 0.15)

-0.02 (-0.07, 0.10)

  1. * p < 0.05
  2. † BCa bootstrap 95% CI does not contain 0
  3. ‡ 95% CIs obtained from BCa bootstrap with 2,000 replicates
  4. Coefficients (95% CIs) are derived from multivariable linear regression models or GLMs and represent the effect of a one z-score increase in grip strength on mean WBV (cm3), mean z-score (cognitive measures) or the multiplicative effect for WMHV (as this is the exponentiated coefficient from the GLM). Z-scores for maximum grip strength were calculated based on the whole NSHD cohort at each nurse visit; z-scores for cognitive tests were calculated based on all 502 Insight 46 participants. Models for levels included those with complete records at that age, models for changes included those with complete records at both age 53 and 69; all 446 participants were hence included in analyses for at least one time point. Decline was calculated as initial grip strength z-score minus final z-score, so coefficients represent the estimated change in the outcome measure (or multiplier for WMHV) for a unit decline in z-score. All models were adjusted for sex, age at scan/visit and nurse visit, body size (weight and height at nurse visit), sociodemographic factors (adult SEP and education level), and sociodemographic, behavioural and health risk factors (physical activity and vascular risk score at nurse visit), plus a binary indicator of cognitive or neurological impairment at 69-71. Models for brain measures additionally controlled for TIV; models for cognitive measures additionally controlled for childhood cognitive ability; and models for WMHV at 53 were additionally adjusted for weight squared. Values given to 2 d.p.
Back to article page

BMC Geriatrics

ISSN: 1471-2318

Contact us