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Xie JK, Caspi A, Harrington H, Houts R, Pietrosimone L, Whitman ET, McKinney LW, Moffitt TE. Adult Physical Function Has Roots in Early Childhood Brain Function: A Five-Decade Cohort Study. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2024; 79:gbae119. [PMID: 39008334 PMCID: PMC11308189 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Tests of physical function are often thought to measure functioning that is (1) musculoskeletal, and (2) newly declining in adult life. In contrast, this study aimed to: (1) add to evidence that physical-function tests also measure brain function, and (2) test the novel hypothesis that adult physical function is associated with brain function beginning in early childhood. We investigated early childhood brain function and midlife physical function in the Dunedin Study, a 5-decade longitudinal birth cohort (n = 1,037). METHODS Brain function was measured at age 3 using 5 measures which formed a reliable composite (neurological examination, cognitive and motor tests, and temperament ratings). Physical function was measured at age 45 using 5 measures which formed a reliable composite (gait speed, step-in-place, chair stands, balance, and grip strength). RESULTS Children with worse age-3 brain function had worse midlife physical function as measured by the age-45 composite, even after controlling for childhood socioeconomic status (β: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.30; p < .001). Worse age-3 brain function significantly predicted slower gait speed, fewer steps-in-place and chair-stands, worse balance, and weaker grip strength. DISCUSSION Children with poorer brain function were more likely to have poorer physical-function scores as adults. In addition to indicating recent musculoskeletal decline, physical-function tests may also provide indications of lifelong, integrated brain-body health. By reconceptualizing the meaning of physical-function scores, clinicians can orient the use of physical-function tests in a more holistic approach to health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kathy Xie
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Avshalom Caspi
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - HonaLee Harrington
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Renate Houts
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Laura Pietrosimone
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ethan T Whitman
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren W McKinney
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Terrie E Moffitt
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, UK
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Hatanaka S, Sasai H, Shida T, Osuka Y, Kojima N, Ohta T, Abe T, Yamashita M, Obuchi SP, Ishizaki T, Fujiwara Y, Awata S, Toba K. Association between dynapenia and cognitive decline in community-dwelling older Japanese adults: The IRIDE Cohort Study. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24 Suppl 1:123-129. [PMID: 38116709 DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
AIM Muscle mass and strength correlate with cognitive function; however, it remains unclear whether dynapenia (i.e., muscle weakness with preserved muscle mass) is relevant. This study aimed to explore whether dynapenia is associated with global cognitive function in community-dwelling older Japanese adults. METHODS This cross-sectional study used data from the Integrated Research Initiative for Living Well with Dementia Cohort Study, which pooled data from five community-based geriatric cohorts. Dynapenia was defined as muscle weakness without muscle mass loss according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). An ordered logistic regression analysis was conducted with dynapenia as the exposure and with cognitive decline stages, defined as an MMSE score of 27-30 for normal cognition, 24-26 for possible cognitive decline, and <24 for cognitive decline, as the outcome, stratified by sex and adjusted for age, muscle mass, education, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, living alone, and non-communicable diseases. RESULTS We analyzed data for 3338 participants (2162 female) with preserved muscle mass. Of these, 449 (13.5%) had dynapenia, and 79 (2.4%) exhibited cognitive decline. Multivariate odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for cognitive decline among those with dynapenia, compared with those without dynapenia, were 1.51 (1.02-2.24) for males and 2.08 (1.51-2.86) for females. CONCLUSIONS Muscle weakness is associated with cognitive decline, even in individuals with preserved muscle mass. Further studies are needed to better understand the association between muscle weakness and cognitive decline over time in order to develop dementia prevention strategies for those with dynapenia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 123-129.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Hatanaka
- Integrated Research Initiative for Living Well with Dementia, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Team for Promoting Independence and Mental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Sasai
- Research Team for Promoting Independence and Mental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Shida
- Research Team for Promoting Independence and Mental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yosuke Osuka
- Research Team for Promoting Independence and Mental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Frailty Research, Center for Gerontology and Social Science Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Aichi, Japan
| | - Narumi Kojima
- Research Team for Promoting Independence and Mental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahisa Ohta
- Integrated Research Initiative for Living Well with Dementia, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Team for Promoting Independence and Mental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takumi Abe
- Research Team for Social Participation and Community Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mari Yamashita
- Integrated Research Initiative for Living Well with Dementia, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuichi P Obuchi
- Human Care Research Team, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuro Ishizaki
- Human Care Research Team, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Fujiwara
- Integrated Research Initiative for Living Well with Dementia, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuichi Awata
- Integrated Research Initiative for Living Well with Dementia, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Toba
- Integrated Research Initiative for Living Well with Dementia, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
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