Ryan McGrath, assistant professor of health, nutrition and exercise sciences, is the lead author of a recent article in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
“Undiagnosed Dementia Is Associated with Poor Physical Function in Older Adults” was posted online on July 25.
“Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are an important topic for aging and health. Screening for dementia can sometimes be absent for many reasons, which is a problem because undiagnosed conditions will exist, and disease progression may occur before doctor referral. Declines in some physical measures, such as muscle strength and mobility, have been shown to be related to the body systems that are connected to dementia. Given that these physical measures are observable and relatively simple to examine, deficits found these assessments could suggest dementia screening take place,” McGrath said.
The study suggests that older adults with a cognitive impairment, including those not yet diagnosed, may have deficits in their physical function. The researchers sought to determine the association of cognitive impairment consistent with dementia, known as CICD, diagnosis status on handgrip strength, gait speed and functional disability in older adults.
The analysis included a sample of 8,383 adults age 65 and older without history of stroke, cancers, neurological conditions, or brain damage. A handgrip dynamometer measured handgrip strength, while gait speed was timed across a 2.5-mile course.
The study found that persons with undiagnosed CICD had 37% greater odds for weakness and 102% greater odds for slow gait speed. Older adults with diagnosed CICD had 129% greater odds for slowness and 85% greater odds for functional disability.
The researchers concluded that screening for CICD could be recommended when defects in physical function are observed in older adults.
McGrath joined the NDSU faculty in 2018. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Jamestown, North Dakota; master’s degree at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks; and doctorate at the University of Idaho, Moscow. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor.
Other researchers and co-authors include Sheria G. Robinson-Lane, School of Nursing at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Lukus Klawitter, NDSU doctoral candidate; Yeong Rhee, NDSU professor of health, nutrition and exercise sciences; Jeremy M. Hamm, NDSU assistant professor of psychology; Mark E. McCourt, NDSU professor of psychology; Kelly Parker, NDSU graduate assistant and instructor; and Kyle J. Hackney, NDSU associate professor of health, nutrition and exercise sciences.
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