FINGER DEXTERITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH FUTURE IMPAIRMENT OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN OLDER ADULTS: A 7-YEAR STUDY. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kobayashi, K; Sakurai, R; Sakuma, N; Suzuki, H; Ogawa, S; Takebayashi, T; Fujiwara, Y
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 568
• Page End: 568
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.2102
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Our recent study showed that finger dexterity is significantly associated with executive function compared to handgrip strength in older adults. However, whether lower finger dexterity is associated with risk of deficits in executive function is still unclear. Therefore, this study examined the longitudinal association between finger dexterity and executive function over a 7-year follow-up in high functioning Japanese older adults. One hundred and sixty-five older adults (mean age and SD, 70.1 ± 4.8; 85.5% female) underwent measurements at baseline and over a 7-year follow-up period. Measurements included finger dexterity test using the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT), handgrip strength; executive function variables including the Trail Making Test (TMT)-A, TMT-B and digit symbol; and global cognition evaluated with MMSE. Multiple regression analyses with and without adjustment for age, gender, education and baseline values indicate that PPT baseline scores, not handgrip strength, was significantly associated with TMT-A, -B and digit symbol scores at the 7-year follow-up, whereas no association was found with MMSE scores, even after covariate adjustment. Contrary, baseline executive function variables and global cognition did not predict longitudinal changes in handgrip strength and PPT scores. Our results indicated that finger dexterity evaluated by the PPT contributes to deficits in executive function in cognitively intact older adults. The lack of association between baseline executive function performance and finger dexterity at follow-up suggests that decline in finger dexterity performance precedes with executive function impairment in high functioning older adults. Thus, decline in finger dexterity might be a surrogate motor marker for impairment of executive function.