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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Developmental origins of midlife grip strength
— findings from a birth cohort study | | Author(s) | Diana Kuh, Rebecca Hardy, Suzanne Butterworth |
| Journal title | Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, vol 61A, no 7, July 2006 |
| Pages | pp 702-706 |
| Source | http://www.geron.org |
| Keywords | Physical capacity ; Musculoskeletal systems ; Middle aged ; Longitudinal surveys ; Cross sectional surveys. |
| Annotation | There is growing evidence that the pre-natal environment has long-term effects on adult grip strength, but little is known about the post-natal environment. The authors tested whether pre-pubertal growth, pubertal growth, or the development of motor and cognitive capabilities was associated with mid-life muscle strength independently of other determinants of grip strength. Handgrip strength and body size were measured for 1406 men and 1444 women aged 53, participants in the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development (MRC NSHD), referred to as the 1946 birth cohort study. Normal regression models were used to examine the effects of birth weight, postnatal height and weight gain before age 7 and between ages 7 and 15, motor milestones and cognitive ability on grip strength at age 53, taking account of lifetime social class, current physical activity and health status. Birth weight and pre-pubertal height gain were associated with midlife grip strength, independently of later weight and height gain and other determinants. Pubertal growth was independently associated with midlife grip strength; for men, weight gain during puberty was beneficial, whereas for women it was height gain. Those participants with other infant motor development had better midlife grip strength, which was partly confounded by the growth trajectory. This study demonstrates that components of pre-natal, post-natal, pre-pubertal and post-pubertal growth have long-term effects on midlife grip strength. To the extent that these associations are modifiable, interventions in childhood that help to build muscle mass and strength, such as increased exercise, may have long-term beneficial effects on adult muscle strength and may help prevent disability and frailty in later life. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-070504238 A |
| Classmark | BI: BK6: SE: 3J: 3KB |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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