title: Association of grip strength with dementia in a Korean older population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have found that low grip strength is associated with dementia in Western populations. However, there have been few studies in Asian populations. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine whether grip strength is independently associated with dementia after controlling for other related factors in a Korean older population.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand thirty-eight community-dwelling older people aged 65 or over within a defined geographic area were screened for dementia. Data on grip strength, sit-to-stand score, body mass index (BMI), socio-demographic factors (age, gender, marital status, education), and medical conditions (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke) were collected. Dementia was diagnosed with the 10/66 dementia diagnostic algorithm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven percent of the participants were found to have dementia. After adjustment for other factors, grip strength (per 8-kg decrease) was independently associated with dementia (odds ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-2.14). Adjusted grip strength by BMI interaction terms showed marginal significance (p = 0.098); that is, older people with both reduced grip strength and low BMI were likely to be at higher risk for dementia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced grip strength was independently associated with dementia in a Korean older population. This association was partially influenced by BMI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Sung-Wan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Il-Seon
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jin-Sang
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis