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. 2023 Mar 31:18:547-555.
doi: 10.2147/CIA.S404734. eCollection 2023.

The Relationship Between Sarcopenia, Cognitive Impairment, and Cerebral White Matter Hyperintensity in the Elderly

Kangrui Zhang #  1   2 , Kangdi Zhang #  3 , Qiuwan Liu  2 , Juncang Wu  2
Affiliations

The Relationship Between Sarcopenia, Cognitive Impairment, and Cerebral White Matter Hyperintensity in the Elderly

Kangrui Zhang et al. Clin Interv Aging. .

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the relationship between sarcopenia-related indices, cognitive impairment and cerebral white matter hyperintensities.

Patients and methods: Ninety-five hospitalized older adults aged 60 years and older were used in this study. Three sarcopenia-related indicators were measured: hand grip strength (Measured with a spring-type dynamometer), gait speed (6m step speed method), and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM, bioelectrical impedance). Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. Cognitive function was assessed using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Cerebral white matter hyperintensity was assessed using 3.0T superconducting magnetic resonance imaging.

Results: In both men and women, these three indices of sarcopenia were significantly and negatively correlated with WMH grades, except for appendicular skeletal muscle mass and WMH grades in women. Scores on the MoCA scale were significantly positive correlated with grip strength, and ASM, both in men and women. After adjusting for confounders and WMHs, regression analyses showed an increased incidence of cognitive impairment in patients with sarcopenia relative to those without sarcopenia.

Conclusion: Lower sarcopenia-related indices were significantly associated with cognitive impairment. WMHs may be one of the factors linking sarcopenia and cognitive function.

Keywords: cognition; gait speed; hand grip strength; muscle mass; white matter hyperintensity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest for this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
White matter hyperintensity and sarcopenic indices. The numbers in the columns indicate the number of subjects. Values are mean ± SEM. (A) The relationship between grip strength and WMHs in men. (B) The relationship between gait speed and WMHs in men. (C) The relationship between ASM and WMHs in men. (D) The relationship between grip strength and WMHs in women. (E) The relationship between gait speed and WMHs in women. (F) The relationship between ASM and WMHs in women.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scatter plots show the relationship between the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores and handgrip strength, gait speed, and ASM in men and women. (A) The relationship between grip strength and MoCA score in men. (B) The relationship between gait speed and MoCA score in men. (C) The relationship between ASM and MoCA score in men. (D) The relationship between grip strength and MoCA score in women. (E) The relationship between gait speed and MoCA score in women. (F) The relationship between ASM and MoCA score in women.
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