Relationship between Physical Activity, Handgrip Strength, Depressive Symptoms, and Cognitive Impairment in Korean older adults

Background Physical activity, muscle strength, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function are intertwined in later life. This study aimed to investigate the association physical activity (PA), relative handgrip strength (RHGS), depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairment in Korean older adults. Method This study consisting of 512 community‐dwelling Korean older adults (417 female, 95 male) aged 65 years and older (74.8±5.4 years) in S‐city, Gyeonggi‐do. PA and handgrip strength were assessed with the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and using a dynamometer (GRIP‐D; Takei Ltd, Niigata, Japan). Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Korean form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES‐D) Scale. Cognitive impairment was assessed with the Mini‐Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE‐DS) of Korean version. The PROCESS V3.4 macro for SPSS based on the bootstrap method was used to determine the mediating effects of PA and RHGS on the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment. Result Multiple logistic regression showed that insufficient PA was associated with high odds of a cognitive impairment ((OR = 2.972, 95%CI = 1.749‐5.052, p = .002) compared with sufficient PA (OR = 1). Weak RHGS (OR = 3.540, 95%CI = 2.156‐5.814, p