The mediating role of lower body muscle strength and IGF-1 level in the relationship between age and cognition. A MIDUS substudy

• Published in: Experimental gerontology Vol. 189; p. 112399
• Main Authors: Gökçe, Evrim, Kaushal, Navin, Fontanille, Theo, Vrinceanu, Tudor, Saillant, Kathia, Vints, Wouter A J, Freret, Thomas, Gauthier, Antoine, Bherer, Louis, Langeard, Antoine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 01.05.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aging; Aging - physiology; Cognition; Cognition - physiology; Cognitive science; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; IGF-1; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - analysis; Life Sciences; Muscle Strength; Retrospective Studies; Serial mediation; Aging; IGF-1; Cognition; Muscle strength; Serial mediation
• ISSN: 0531-5565; 1873-6815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2024.112399

Aging is a natural process associated with a decline in cognition. However, the mediating effect of physical function and circulating myokines on this relationship has yet to be fully clarified. This study investigated how muscle strength and circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels mediate the relationship between age and cognitive functions. A total of 1255 participants aged 25–74 years included in the Midlife in the United States II study were retrospectively analyzed. In this cross-sectional analysis, we applied a serial mediation model to explore the mediating effects of muscle strength and circulating IGF-1 levels on the relationship between age and cognitive functions. We included potential confounding factors related to sociodemographics, lifestyle, and health status as covariates in the model. The results showed that aging had both direct and indirect effects on cognition. As predicted, muscle strength and IGF-1 levels mediated the relationship between age and specific cognitive functions. In addition, mediation analyses indicated that the association between aging and cognitive flexibility, immediate and delayed memory, and inductive reasoning were partially mediated by muscle strength and IGF-1 levels in a serial manner. Our study demonstrated the serial multiple mediation roles of muscle strength and IGF-1 levels on the relationship between age and specific cognitive functions. Further longitudinal research should be performed to confirm the serial mediation results. •Muscle strength plays a mediating role in the link between age and cognition.•IGF-1 emerges as a potential mediator of age-related cognitive decline.•Muscle strength and IGF-1 levels serially mediates the effects of age on cognition.