title: Change in motor function and adverse health outcomes in older African-Americans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We tested whether declining motor function accelerates with age in older African-Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven motor performances were assessed annually in 513 older African-Americans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During follow-up of 5 years, linear mixed-effect models showed that motor function declined by about 0.03 units/year (Estimate, -0.026, p<0.001); about 4% more rapidly for each additional year of age at baseline. A proportional hazard model showed that both baseline motor function level and its rate of change were independent predictors of death and incident disability (all p's<0.001). These models showed that the additional annual amount of motor decline in 85 year old persons at baseline versus 65 year old persons was associated with a 1.5-fold higher rate of death and a 3-fold higher rate of developing Katz disability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of declining motor function accelerates with increasing age and its rate of decline predicts adverse health outcomes in older African-Americans.
authors.affiliation: Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, United States; Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, United States. Electronic address: Aron_S_Buchman@rush.edu.
authors.forename: Aron S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Buchman
authors.affiliation: Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, United States; Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, United States. Electronic address: rwilson@rush.edu.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, United States; Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, United States. Electronic address: Sue_E_Leurgans@rush.edu.
authors.forename: Sue E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Leurgans
authors.affiliation: Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, United States; Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, United States. Electronic address: David_A_Bennett@rush.edu.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, United States; Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, United States; Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, United States. Electronic address: Lisa_L_Barnes@rush.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D000068079:Motor Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012727:Sex Characteristics
keywords: African-American; Aging; Disability; Mortality; Motor decline