Fine or Gross Motor Index as a Simple Tool for Predicting Cognitive Impairment in Elderly People: Findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

Abstract

Background: Several kinds of motor dysfunction can predict future cognitive impairment in elderly individuals. However, the ability of the fine motor index (FINEA) and gross motor index (GROSSA) to predict the risk of cognitive impairment has not been assessed.

Objective: We investigated the associations between FINEA/GROSSA and cognitive impairment.

Methods: The data of 4,745 participants from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) were analyzed. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We first assessed the correlation between the FINEA/GROSSA and MMSE in a cross-sectional study. Then, we further investigated the predictive role of the incidence of cognitive impairment in a prospective cohort study.

Results: We found that both FINEA and GROSSA were negatively correlated with MMSE in both the unadjusted (FINEA: B = -1.00, 95%confidence intervals (CI): -1.17, -0.83, t = -11.53, p < 0.001; GROSSA: B = -0.85, 95%CI: -0.94, -0.76, t = -18.29, p < 0.001) and adjusted (FINEA: B = -0.63, 95%CI: -0.79, -0.47, t = -7.77, p < 0.001; GROSSA: B = -0.57, 95%CI: -0.66, -0.48, t = -12.61, p < 0.001) analyses in a cross-sectional study. In a prospective cohort study, both high FINEA and high GROSSA were associated with an increased incidence of cognitive function impairment (FINEA: adjusted odds ratios (OR) = 2.35, 95%CI: 1.05, 5.23, p = 0.036; GROSSA adjusted OR = 3.00, 95%CI: 1.49, 6.03, p = 0.002) after 2 years of follow-up.

Conclusion: Higher FINEA and GROSSA scores were both associated with an increased incidence of cognitive impairment. FINEA or GROSSA might be a simple tool for identifying patients with cognitive impairment.

Keywords: Cognitive impairment; fine motor index; gross motor index; the Irish longitudinal study on ageing.