title: Grip Strength and Cognitive Abilities: Associations in Old Age.
abstract: Both physical functioning and cognitive abilities are important for well-being, not least in old age. Grip strength is often considered an indicator of general vitality and, as such, may predict cognitive functioning. Few longitudinal studies have examined the relationship between grip strength and cognition, especially where specific cognitive abilities have been targeted.
  
  
  
  Participants (n = 708, age range: 40-86 years at baseline) came from the population-based longitudinal Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging. We used a longitudinal follow-up of 6 waves during 20 years. For the analyses, we used latent growth modeling, where latent growth trajectories were fitted to the cognitive traits (verbal ability, spatial ability, processing speed, and memory) or to the grip strength values and each, respectively, treated as time-varying covariates of the other trait.
  
  
  
  Results supported a longitudinal influence of grip strength on changes in cognitive function. Grip strength performance was associated with change in the 4 cognitive abilities after age 65 years.
  
  
  
  A rather stable connection was found between grip strength and cognitive abilities starting around 65 years of age. The starting period suggests that the association may be due to lifestyle changes, such as retirement, or to acceleration of the aging processes.
authors: Institute of Gerontology, School of Health Sciences, Jönköping University, Sweden. Stockholm Brain Institute, Sweden. ola.sternang@hhj.hj.se.
authors: Ola
authors: O
authors: Sternäng
authors: Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside.
authors: Chandra A
authors: CA
authors: Reynolds
authors: Department of Psychology, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Finkel
authors: Institute of Gerontology, School of Health Sciences, Jönköping University, Sweden.
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Ernsth-Bravell
authors: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
authors: Nancy L
authors: NL
authors: Pedersen
authors: Institute of Gerontology, School of Health Sciences, Jönköping University, Sweden. Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Anna K
authors: AK
authors: Dahl Aslan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Cognition; Grip strength; Longitudinal; Time-varying covariates