Combination of gait speed and grip strength to predict cognitive decline and dementia

Introduction:To determine whether slowed gait and weakened grip strength independently, or together, better identify risk of cognitive decline or dementia.

Methods:Time to walk 3 meters and grip strength were measured in a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial involving community-dwelling, initially cognitively healthy older adults (N = 19,114).

Results:Over a median 4.7 years follow-up, slow gait and weak grip strength at baseline were independently associated with risk of incident dementia (hazard ratio[HR] = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19–1.73; and 1.24, 95% CI: 1.04–1.50, respectively) and cognitive decline (HR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.26–1.51; and 1.04, 95% CI: 0.95–1.14, respectively) and when combined, were associated with 79% and 43% increase in risk of dementia and cognitive decline, respectively. Annual declines in gait and in grip over time showed similar results.

Discussion:Gait speed and grip strength are low-cost markers that may be useful in the clinical setting to help identify and manage individuals at greater risk, or with early signs, of dementia, particularly when measured together.