Association Between Lower-Limb Muscle Quality, Cognitive Function and Sarcopenia in Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study - Arrieiro, Arthur N.; Taiar, Redha; Soares, Luana A.; Santos, Jousielle M.; Pereira, Fabiana S. M.; Viegas, Ângela A.; Teixeira, Leonardo A. C.; Oliveira, Murilo X.; Fonseca, Sueli F.; Cordeiro, Giovana A.; Parentoni, Adriana N.; Mendonça, Vanessa A.; et al. (Bioengineering, 2026)
Background/Objectives: This cross-sectional study evaluated associations between physical function, cognitive function, sarcopenia, and the lower-limb Muscle Quality Index (MQI) in older adults. Methods: Patients with various MQIs (strength-to-mass ratios) were stratified into two groups. Physical-muscular aspects were assessed using body mass index (BMI), a Simple Questionnaire to Rapidly Diagnose Sarcopenia (SARC-F), and handgrip strength. Cognitive aspects were assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Trail Making Test, Stroop Test, verbal fluency, and dual-task performance. Seventy-nine older adults (73 ± 9 years) of both sexes completed the tests. Results: BMI, SARC-F, handgrip strength, MMSE, Stroop Test (L1), semantic verbal fluency (animals), and dual-task outcomes differed between MQI groups (p ≤ 0.05) and were associated with MQI in regression analyses. In the adjusted model, BMI, handgrip strength, and dual-task walking time were independently associated with MQI (adjusted R2 = 0.514). Conclusion: Lower-limb MQI was associated with markers of sarcopenia and cognitive/dual-task performance in community-dwelling older adults.
Keywords: journalArticle; aged; executive function; muscle strength; sarcopenia; walking speed