Associations of Sarcopenia, Handgrip Strength and Calf Circumference with Cognitive Impairment among Chinese Older Adults

Objective To evaluate the associations of sarcopenia,handgrip strength and calf circumference with cognitive impairment among Chinese older adults.Methods Totally 2,525 older adults were recruited from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study.Cognitive impairment was assessed by the Chinese Mini-Mental State Examination.Handgrip strength was calculated from the means of the right and left hand values.Calf circumference was measured at the site of maximum circumference of the non-dominant leg.The formula developed by Ishii was used to define sarcopenia.Multiple logistic regression was performed to evaluate the associations of sarcopenia,handgrip strength,and calf circumference with cognitive impairment.Results The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 34.36%.The adjusted odds ratio(OR)for cognitive impairment in individuals with sarcopenia was 2.55[95% confidence interval(95%CI):1.86-3.50].Compared with individuals in the first quartile(Q1)of calf circumference,the adjusted ORs in the second,third,and fourth quartiles(Q_(2),Q_(3),and Q_(4))were 0.75(95% CI:0.58-0.96),0.59(95% CI:0.44-0.79),and 0.62(95% CI:0.45-0.8),respectively.Compared with individuals in Q1 of handgrip strength,the adjusted ORs for Q_(2),Q_(3),and Q_(4) were 0.49(95%CI:0.38-0.62),0.31(95% CI:0.23-0.41),and 0.30(95%CI:0.21-0.44),respectively.Conclusion Sarcopenia,identified by low handgrip strength and low calf circumference,was positively associated with cognitive impairment.

Population Attributable Fractions for Modifiable Factors of Longevity and Healthy Longevity Among the Late-Elderly Aged 75 Years or Older—China,1998-2018

Summary What is already known about this topic?Limited evidence on healthy longevity was provided in the world,and no studies investigated the fractions of healthy longevity attributed to modifiable factors.What is added by this report?Incidences of longevity and healthy longevity in China are provided.It reveals that the total weighted population attributable fractions for lifestyles and all modifiable factors were 32.8% and 83.7% for longevity,respectively,and 30.4% and 73.4% for healthy longevity,respectively.What are the implications for public health practice?China has a high potential for longevity and healthy longevity.Strategies may be targeted at education and residence in early life as well as healthy lifestyles,disease prevention,and functional optimization in late life.

Are flexibility and muscle-strengthening activities associated with functional limitation?

This retrospective cohort study examined the relationship between self-reported participation in flexibility and muscular strengthening activities and the development of functional limitation(i.e.,once an individual has difficulty with or becomes unable to perform activities of daily living).Data were obtained from 1318 adults(mean age 49.59.7 years;98.7%Caucasian;14.9%female)enrolled in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study from 1979 to 2004 and free of functional limitation at baseline.Mail-back health surveys were used to prospectively determine incident functional limitation.Participation in muscle-strengthening and flexibility activities was assessed via self-report.Adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to determine the odds ratios(OR)and corresponding 95%confidence intervals for developing functional limitation during follow-up based on participation in general and specific categories of flexibility(‘Stretching’,‘Calisthenics’,or‘Exercise Class’)and musclestrengthening activities(‘Calisthenics’,‘Free Weights’,‘Weight Training Machines’,or‘Other’).Overall,42.6%of the sample reported incident functional limitation.After adjusting for potential confounders(e.g.,age,sex,cardiometabolic risk factors),those who reported performing muscle-strengthening activities in general(n=685)were at lower risk of developing functional limitation[OR=0.79(0.63–1.00)].In addition,the specific flexibility activities of stretching(n=491)and calisthenics(n=122)were associated with 24%and 38%decreased odds of incident functional limitation,respectively.General muscle-strengthening,stretching,and calisthenics activities are prospectively associated with decreased risk of incident functional limitation in generally healthy,middleaged and older adults.Thus,both public health and rehabilitation programs should highlight the importance of flexibility and muscle-strengthening activities during adulthood to help preserve functional capacity.