TWO-WAY Bridge between Muscular Dysfunction and Cognitive Impairment: Secondary Analyses of SABE - Bogota Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Muscular dysfunction and cognitive impairment are both disabling states, affecting especially the elderly. Thus, are important subjects of research. Our goal is to describe the association between these two entities in the elderly.

METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from the SABE 2012 Bogota survey, which is a cross-sectional study. We define muscular dysfunction as an abnormal result in gait speed and/or handgrip strength tasks. Cognitive impairment was defined as an abnormal result in Mini Mental State Examination. Other independent variables were measured.

RESULTS: A total of 1,564 older adults were included in the analysis. Cognitive impairment showed statistically significant association with both low handgrip strength (OR: 2.25; CI 1.52 - 3.33) and low gait speed (OR: 2.76; CI 1.83 - 4.15) in the adjusted model.

CONCLUSION: In older adults, muscular dysfunction is associated with cognitive impairment. New studies should address the causality and temporality of this relationship.