Abstract: Objective To investigate the correlation between muscle function and cognitive function in the elderly. Methods A total of 385 elderly patients admitted to Department of Geriatrics in Xuanwu Hospital were selected consecutively. The clinical and laboratory examination data, muscle function and cognitive function were evaluated and collected. The patients were divided into cognitive dysfunction group(n=32) and non-cognitive dysfunction group(n=353) according to the score of Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE).The correlation between muscle function and cognitive function in the elderly people were analyzed. Results Age, “get-up and go” test time were significantly higher, and four meters step speed, upper arm circumference, lower leg circumference, grip strength, the levels of triylyceride, hemoglobin and MMSE score were significantly lower in the cognitive dysfunction group than those in the non-cognitive dysfunction group(P<0.05). Whereas gender, appendicular skeletal muscle mass(ASM), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index(ASMI), the incidence of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease showed no significantly difference between the two groups(P> 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that after controlling for age variables, cognitive function was positively related with grip strength(r=0.145, P=0.005) and four meters step speed(r=0.126, P=0.018). Logistic regression analysis revealed that grip strength was a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction(OR=1.099,95％CI:1.016-1.188,P=0.019). Conclusions Decreased muscle function significantly reduced cognitive function in the elderly. Cognitive function is positively related with muscle function. Grip strength was a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction.

Key words: muscle function, grip strength, step speed, cognitive function