Associations Between Fine Motor Performance in Activities of Daily Living and Cognitive Ability in a Nondemented Sample of Older Adults: Implications for Geriatric Physical Rehabilitation. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fauth, Elizabeth B.; Schaefer, Sydney Y.; Zarit, Steven H.; Ernsth-Bravell, Marie; Johansson, Boo
• Is Part Of: Journal of aging and health. Volume 29:Number 7(2017:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1144
• Page End: 1159
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: fine motor ability -- functional ability -- disablement -- cognitive ability -- grip strength; Older people -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1177/0898264316654674
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0898-2643

Abstract

Objective: Fine motor ability (FMA) is essential in certain activities of daily living (ADL) and is considered mostly as a component of physical function. We hypothesize that cognitive ability explains significant variance in ADL-related FMA, above and beyond what is explained by physical ability (grip strength).Method: Origins of Variance in the Old Old Study (OCTO)-Twin participants ( n = 218), aged 80+ (dementia, stroke, Parkinson's disease excluded) were assessed on depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression Scale [CES-D]), a cognitive battery, grip strength, and FMA.Results: In a series of ordinary least squares regression models, FMA was not associated with gender or depressive symptoms, but was associated with age (marginally; β = −.164, p = .051), grip strength (β = −.381, p < .01), and one cognitive measure, perceptual speed (β = −.249, p < .01).Discussion: In nondemented older adults, cognitive speed predicts ADL-related FMA after controlling for age and physical ability. Physical rehabilitation of FMA in ADL tasks should consider the importance of cognitive ability, even in nondemented older adults.