Adult Physical Function Has Roots in Early Childhood Brain Function: A Five-Decade Cohort Study

J Kathy Xie, Avshalom Caspi, HonaLee Harrington, Renate Houts, Laura Pietrosimone, Ethan T Whitman, Lauren W McKinney, Terrie E Moffitt and Vanessa Taler

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2024, vol. 79, issue 9, e80386-617

Abstract: ObjectivesTests of physical function are often thought to measure functioning that is (1) musculoskeletal, and (2) newly declining in adult life. In contrast, this study aimed to: (1) add to evidence that physical-function tests also measure brain function, and (2) test the novel hypothesis that adult physical function is associated with brain function beginning in early childhood. We investigated early childhood brain function and midlife physical function in the Dunedin Study, a 5-decade longitudinal birth cohort (n = 1,037).MethodsBrain function was measured at age 3 using 5 measures which formed a reliable composite (neurological examination, cognitive and motor tests, and temperament ratings). Physical function was measured at age 45 using 5 measures which formed a reliable composite (gait speed, step-in-place, chair stands, balance, and grip strength).ResultsChildren with worse age-3 brain function had worse midlife physical function as measured by the age-45 composite, even after controlling for childhood socioeconomic status (β: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.30; p

Keywords: Cognitive reserve; Life course; Neuropsychology; Physical function; Systems integrity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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