Relationship between Physical Activity, Hand Grip Strength, and Malnutrition Status in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Case-Control Study
Abstract
Objective: To determine the relationship between physical activity level, hand grip asymmetry, and nutritional status in geriatric individuals with and without neurodegenerative diseases.
Methods: This research was conducted in a nursing home in Istanbul between November 2023 and March 2024. The study included geriatric individuals aged 65 years and older with neurodegenerative diseases as the study group and age-matched controls with no evidence of neurodegeneration. Data collection involved sociodemographic surveys, anthropometric measurements, hand grip strength measurements, International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Mini Nutritional Assessment tests.
Results: The mean age of study group was 76.7±7.3 and 74.3±7.5 years in control group. The study group had a higher malnutrition risk (59.3%) compared to controls, who showed predominantly normal nutritional status (66.7%, p=0.031). Hand grip strength measurements revealed greater asymmetry in the study group (74.1% vs. 33.3% with no asymmetry, p=0.003), along with significantly lower mean hand grip strength values on the right (13.3±6.4 vs. 22.1±7.6) and left hand (12.4±6.3 vs. 21.0±7.2, both p<0.001). The median hand grip strength ratio was also lower in the study group (0.8 [0.7-0.8] vs. 1.0 [0.9-1.0], p<0.001). In minimally active participants, neurodegenerative disease strongly correlated with increased hand grip strength asymmetry (87.5% vs. 29.2%, p<0.001), while no significant asymmetry association was observed in inactive individuals (p=0.707).
Conclusion: Handgrip strength and its asymmetry may offer promise for early detection and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases in older adults. We propose that these tests be incorporated into geriatric clinical assessments to improve early intervention strategies.
Keywords
Geriatrics handgrip strength neurodegenerative diseases nutritional status physical activity
Project Number
TÜBİTAK 2209-A 1919B012310692
References
- Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK). İstatistiklerle yaşlılar. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Istatistiklerle-Yaslilar-2022-49667 Accessed December 10, 2023.
- Tieland M, Trouwborst I, Clark BC. Skeletal muscle performance and ageing. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2018;9(1):3-19. doi:10.1002/jcsm.12238
- Kuspinar A, Verschoor CP, Beauchamp MK, et al. Modifiable factors related to life-space mobility in community-dwelling older adults: Results from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. BMC Geriatr. 2020;20(1):35. doi:10.1186/s12877-020- 1432-2
- Alanazi MA. The role of physical activity in adjunctive nursing management of neuro-degenerative diseases among older adults: A systematic review of interventional studies. Life (Basel). 2024;14(5):597. doi:10.3390/life14050597
- Villemagne VL, Burnham S, Bourgeat P, et al. Amyloid β deposition, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease: A prospective cohort study. Lancet Neurol. 2013;12(4):357-367. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70045-3
- Keleş E, Özalevli S. Alzheimer’s Disease and Treatment Approaches. İzmir Katip Çelebi Univ Fac Health Sci J. 2018;3(2):39-42.
- Camargo EC, Weinstein G, Beiser AS, et al. Association of physical function with clinical and subclinical brain disease: The Framingham Offspring Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2016;53(4):1597-1608. doi:10.3233/JAD-160222
- Cin A, Boyraz S, Öztürk V, Yaka E. Malnutrition in old patients with stroke. Turk J Cerebrovasc Dis. 2019;25(3):155-163.
- Yılmaz G, Karaca KE. Evaluation of the Nutritional Status of Geriatric Individuals with and without Dementia. Turk J Family Med Prim Care. 2021;15(3). doi:10.21763/tjfmpc.883284 Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, et al. Sarcopenia: Revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis (EWGSOP2). Age Ageing. 2019;48(1):16-31. doi:10.1093/ageing/afy169
- Carson RG. Grip strength: Individual differences in the brain health marker. Neurobiol Aging. 2018;71:189-222. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.07.004
- McGrath R, Johnson N, Klawitter L, et al. What are the association patterns between handgrip strength and adverse health conditions? A topical review. SAGE Open Med. 2020;8:2050312120910358. doi:10.1177/2050312120910358
- Lohman TG, Roche AF, Martorell R. Anthropometric Standardization Reference Manual. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Books; 1988.
- Vaishya R, Misra A, Vaish A, et al. Hand grip strength as a proposed new vital sign of health: A narrative review of evidences. J Health Popul Nutr. 2024;43:7. doi:10.1186/s41043-024-00500-y
- Aksu S, Çaman T, Özdemir İ, Bek S, Kutlu G. Lower handgrip strength in short-sleeper individuals with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Med. 2023;112:352-358.
- Chen Z, Ho M, Chau PH. Handgrip strength asymmetry is associated with the risk of neurodegenerative disorders among Chinese older adults. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2022;13(2):1013-1023. doi:10.1002/jcsm.12867
- Saglam M, Arikan H, Savci S, et al. International physical activity questionnaire: reliability and validity of the Turkish version. Percept Mot Skills. 2010;111(1):278-284. doi:10.2466/06.08.PMS.111.4.278-2
- Craig CL, Marshall AL, Sjöström M, et al. International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003;35(8):1381-1395. doi:10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB
- Sarikaya D, Halil M, Kuyumcu ME, et al. Mini nutritional assessment test long and short form are valid screening tools in Turkish older adults. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2015;61(1):56-60. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2015.04.006
- Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. 2nd ed. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1988.
- Choi JY, Lee S, Min JY, Min KB. Asymmetrical handgrip strength is associated with lower cognitive performance in the elderly. J Clin Med. 2022;11(10):2904. doi:10.3390/jcm11102904
- Nasios G, Messinis L, Dardiotis E, Kassubek J. Communication, feeding, and swallowing disorders in neurological diseases. Behav Neurol. 2022;2022:9851424. doi:10.1155/2022/9851424
- Yalçın E, Rakıcıoğlu N. The Relationship between Handgrip Strength and Health in Elderly. J Nutr Diet. 2018;46(1):77-83.
- Galesi LF, Leandro‐Merhi VA, de Oliveira MRM. Association between indicators of dementia and nutritional status in institutionalised older people. Int J Older People Nurs. 2012;8(3):236-243. doi:10.1111/opn.12011
- Brigola AG, Rossetti ES, Dos Santos BR, et al. Relationship between cognition and frailty in elderly: A systematic review. Dement Neuropsychol. 2015;9:110-119.
- Chang M, Geirsdottir OG, Eymundsdottir H, et al. Association between baseline handgrip strength and cognitive function assessed before and after a 12-week resistance exercise intervention among community-living older adults. Aging Health Res. 2022;2(3):100092. doi:10.1016/j.ahr.2022.100092
Relationship between Physical Activity, Hand Grip Strength, and Malnutrition Status in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Case-Control Study
Abstract
Objective: To determine the relationship between physical activity level, hand grip asymmetry, and nutritional status in geriatric individuals with and without neurodegenerative diseases.
Methods: This research was conducted in a nursing home in Istanbul between November 2023 and March 2024. The study included geriatric individuals aged 65 years and older with neurodegenerative diseases as the study group and age-matched controls with no evidence of neurodegeneration. Data collection involved sociodemographic surveys, anthropometric measurements, hand grip strength measurements, International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Mini Nutritional Assessment tests.
Results: The mean age of study group was 76.7±7.3 and 74.3±7.5 years in control group. The study group had a higher malnutrition risk (59.3%) compared to controls, who showed predominantly normal nutritional status (66.7%, p=0.031). Hand grip strength measurements revealed greater asymmetry in the study group (74.1% vs. 33.3% with no asymmetry, p=0.003), along with significantly lower mean hand grip strength values on the right (13.3±6.4 vs. 22.1±7.6) and left hand (12.4±6.3 vs. 21.0±7.2, both p<0.001). The median hand grip strength ratio was also lower in the study group (0.8 [0.7-0.8] vs. 1.0 [0.9-1.0], p<0.001). In minimally active participants, neurodegenerative disease strongly correlated with increased hand grip strength asymmetry (87.5% vs. 29.2%, p<0.001), while no significant asymmetry association was observed in inactive individuals (p=0.707).
Conclusion: Handgrip strength and its asymmetry may offer promise for early detection and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases in older adults. We propose that these tests be incorporated into geriatric clinical assessments to improve early intervention strategies.
Keywords
geriatrics neurodegenerative diseases nutritional status physical activity handgrip strength
Project Number
TÜBİTAK 2209-A 1919B012310692
References
- Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK). İstatistiklerle yaşlılar. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Istatistiklerle-Yaslilar-2022-49667 Accessed December 10, 2023.
- Tieland M, Trouwborst I, Clark BC. Skeletal muscle performance and ageing. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2018;9(1):3-19. doi:10.1002/jcsm.12238
- Kuspinar A, Verschoor CP, Beauchamp MK, et al. Modifiable factors related to life-space mobility in community-dwelling older adults: Results from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. BMC Geriatr. 2020;20(1):35. doi:10.1186/s12877-020- 1432-2
- Alanazi MA. The role of physical activity in adjunctive nursing management of neuro-degenerative diseases among older adults: A systematic review of interventional studies. Life (Basel). 2024;14(5):597. doi:10.3390/life14050597
- Villemagne VL, Burnham S, Bourgeat P, et al. Amyloid β deposition, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease: A prospective cohort study. Lancet Neurol. 2013;12(4):357-367. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70045-3
- Keleş E, Özalevli S. Alzheimer’s Disease and Treatment Approaches. İzmir Katip Çelebi Univ Fac Health Sci J. 2018;3(2):39-42.
- Camargo EC, Weinstein G, Beiser AS, et al. Association of physical function with clinical and subclinical brain disease: The Framingham Offspring Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2016;53(4):1597-1608. doi:10.3233/JAD-160222
- Cin A, Boyraz S, Öztürk V, Yaka E. Malnutrition in old patients with stroke. Turk J Cerebrovasc Dis. 2019;25(3):155-163.
- Yılmaz G, Karaca KE. Evaluation of the Nutritional Status of Geriatric Individuals with and without Dementia. Turk J Family Med Prim Care. 2021;15(3). doi:10.21763/tjfmpc.883284 Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, et al. Sarcopenia: Revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis (EWGSOP2). Age Ageing. 2019;48(1):16-31. doi:10.1093/ageing/afy169
- Carson RG. Grip strength: Individual differences in the brain health marker. Neurobiol Aging. 2018;71:189-222. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.07.004
- McGrath R, Johnson N, Klawitter L, et al. What are the association patterns between handgrip strength and adverse health conditions? A topical review. SAGE Open Med. 2020;8:2050312120910358. doi:10.1177/2050312120910358
- Lohman TG, Roche AF, Martorell R. Anthropometric Standardization Reference Manual. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Books; 1988.
- Vaishya R, Misra A, Vaish A, et al. Hand grip strength as a proposed new vital sign of health: A narrative review of evidences. J Health Popul Nutr. 2024;43:7. doi:10.1186/s41043-024-00500-y
- Aksu S, Çaman T, Özdemir İ, Bek S, Kutlu G. Lower handgrip strength in short-sleeper individuals with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Med. 2023;112:352-358.
- Chen Z, Ho M, Chau PH. Handgrip strength asymmetry is associated with the risk of neurodegenerative disorders among Chinese older adults. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2022;13(2):1013-1023. doi:10.1002/jcsm.12867
- Saglam M, Arikan H, Savci S, et al. International physical activity questionnaire: reliability and validity of the Turkish version. Percept Mot Skills. 2010;111(1):278-284. doi:10.2466/06.08.PMS.111.4.278-2
- Craig CL, Marshall AL, Sjöström M, et al. International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003;35(8):1381-1395. doi:10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB
- Sarikaya D, Halil M, Kuyumcu ME, et al. Mini nutritional assessment test long and short form are valid screening tools in Turkish older adults. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2015;61(1):56-60. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2015.04.006
- Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. 2nd ed. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1988.
- Choi JY, Lee S, Min JY, Min KB. Asymmetrical handgrip strength is associated with lower cognitive performance in the elderly. J Clin Med. 2022;11(10):2904. doi:10.3390/jcm11102904
- Nasios G, Messinis L, Dardiotis E, Kassubek J. Communication, feeding, and swallowing disorders in neurological diseases. Behav Neurol. 2022;2022:9851424. doi:10.1155/2022/9851424
- Yalçın E, Rakıcıoğlu N. The Relationship between Handgrip Strength and Health in Elderly. J Nutr Diet. 2018;46(1):77-83.
- Galesi LF, Leandro‐Merhi VA, de Oliveira MRM. Association between indicators of dementia and nutritional status in institutionalised older people. Int J Older People Nurs. 2012;8(3):236-243. doi:10.1111/opn.12011
- Brigola AG, Rossetti ES, Dos Santos BR, et al. Relationship between cognition and frailty in elderly: A systematic review. Dement Neuropsychol. 2015;9:110-119.
- Chang M, Geirsdottir OG, Eymundsdottir H, et al. Association between baseline handgrip strength and cognitive function assessed before and after a 12-week resistance exercise intervention among community-living older adults. Aging Health Res. 2022;2(3):100092. doi:10.1016/j.ahr.2022.100092
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Geriatrics and Gerontology |
| Journal Section | Original Article |
| Authors | |
| Project Number | TÜBİTAK 2209-A 1919B012310692 |
| Publication Date | May 27, 2025 |
| Submission Date | November 21, 2024 |
| Acceptance Date | March 17, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 11 Issue: 2 |
