Sex Differences In The Associations Among Grip Strength, Walking Speed, Sarcopenic Obesity, And Mild Cognitive Impairment: Evidence From The Qingdao (Laoshan) Aging And Cognition Screening (QLACS) Project
It’s well-known that as we age, factors like reduced muscle strength, slower walking, and a condition called sarcopenia—which is the loss of muscle mass and function—can increase the risk of experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is a stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more serious decline of dementia. However, what hasn’t been fully understood is whether these connections are the same for everyone, or if there are differences between men and women.
A recent study set out to explore these sex-specific associations. Researchers looked at data from a large group of older adults, examining how grip strength, walking speed, and sarcopenic obesity (a combination of muscle loss and excess body fat) were linked to MCI.
The findings were quite insightful. For men, having low grip strength by itself was associated with a higher risk of MCI. Interestingly, this direct link wasn’t observed in women. However, for women, sarcopenic obesity showed an even stronger negative impact on cognitive function compared to sarcopenia alone. This suggests that the combination of muscle loss and obesity poses a particular risk for women’s cognitive health.
Furthermore, the study found that for both men and women in their early older adult years, a decrease in grip strength and a slower walking speed were generally linked to MCI.
These results highlight a crucial point: when it comes to maintaining cognitive health in older age, a one-size-fits-all approach may not be the most effective. Recognizing these sex differences means that interventions aimed at preventing or managing MCI, such as exercise programs or nutritional guidance, might need to be specifically tailored for men and women to be most beneficial.
Source: link to paper