| Abstract |
Introduction Europe's ageing population, combined increasing life expectancy with low birth rates, create a prolonged time frame for old age. One of the consequences of aging is the cognitive impairment with the attendant problems, both in individuals themselves and in the health system and the economy of states. The collective interest therefore requires that due attention be paid to the promotion of a healthy senile population, independent, dynamic and certainly with a reduced financial burden. In this direction, the constant search for the relationship of cognitive decline with hand grip strength measurement and physical inactivity is remarkable. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cognitive function of people 50+ years old populations of European countries and its correlation with chirodynamometry and their physical inactivity.
Methodology Data from participants of the "Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe – SHARE" of 2019/20 were used, from 27 European countries with the weighted analysis sample amounting to 41,395 people 50+ years old (N=165,044,028). Cognitive Impairment was defined through measurements and reference scales as the presence of 3+ criteria (cognitive impairment). In summary, five different criteria were used in its evaluation: Verbal Fluency, Immediate Recall, Delayed Recall, Numeracy and Orientation. As they all determined different scores in gradation and range, the distinction was made according to cutoffs for the definition of low levels of cognitive function or presence of cognitive impairment. These values were:<15 animal names in Verbal Fluency, <5 words in Direct Recall of 10 words, &;lt;4 words in Delayed Recall of 10 words and values 0 and/or 1 in Arithmetic & Orientation in the present day. Participants who had values in the above limits were encoded with a value of 1 (with cognitive impairment) and the rest with a value of 0 (without any cognitive impairment). Then, for each participant, the values of the five criteria were summed up and a total cognitive function score was determined as a composite score with a range of 0 to 5, where the value 0 (zero) defined the absence of cognitive impairment in any of the five tests, the values 1-2 the Cognitive Impairment in 1-2 criteria and a score of 3+ defined the presence of Cognitive Impairment. Hand dynamometry was also used by grip strength in kilos & physical inactivity (physical inactivity as lack of moderate / intense exercise) while social and demographic data were also utilized. This was followed by weighted estimates through the method of analysis of covariance (ancova) and complex sample analysis by checking the levels of hand dynamometry & physical inactivity and their relationship to the presence of Cognitive Dysfunction. Results From41,395 participants of SHARE survey aged 50+yrs 27 countries of Europe, 56.6% were women; the average age of all was 70.9 years (±9.1) while with multi morbidity or 3+ diseases was found 22.6%. With normal cognitive function was found 51.1% (95%CI 49.8, 52.3) and with Cognitive Impairment 13.3% (estimated population N = 21.944.722) of which significantly more women versus men (14.4% vs. 12.0%, p<0.001), those without education versus those with 13+ years of education (29.0% vs. 6.8%, p<0.001) or in the Southern countries versus the Nordic countries (21.9% vs. 7.6%, p <0,001). In hand dynamometer, the Nordic countries seem to have significantly higher average levels than in the Southerners (p<0.001) while in physical inactivity, 10.8% were without moderate/strenuous activity. Participants with Cognitive Impairment had significantly lower mean hand strength measurement levels compared to those with Cognitive Impairment in 1-2 criteria but also with normal cognitive function (29.3 vs. 33.4 and 35.1kg respectively, p-trend<0.001). Similarly, participants with Physical Inactivity compared to those who had moderate/intense physical activity, had significantly higher odds for Cognitive Impairment both in 1-2 criteria (OR=1.73; 95%CI 1.32, 2.26) and in 3+ criteria (OR=3.36; 95%CI 2.57, 4.40). Conclusions In populations of Europe aged 50+yrs, the prevalence of Cognitive Impairment appears low, but was significantly related to the presence of lower levels of hand dynamometry and the presence of physical inactivity. The early detection and slowing down of cognitive decline can therefore be part of special planning in its possible diagnosis and treatment, using measurement indicators such as handle strength and evaluation of the physical inactivity of populations.
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