Grip strength and Cognitive Function of Elderly people in China: The Chain mediating effect of life-space mobility and Depression

This study investigates the relationship between grip strength and cognitive status in older adults, specifically examining the mediating roles of life-space mobility and depressive symptoms. A multicenter stratified sampling method was employed to recruit 382 older adults from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Grip strength was measured using a dynamometer, while validated scales assessed life-space mobility, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 for descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation analysis. A chain mediation model PROCESS 4.2, Model 6 tested pathways, with mediation effects evaluated via the Bootstrap method (5,000 resamples). Results revealed that grip strength exerted a direct effect accounting for 56.9% of its total influence on cognitive dysfunction. Critically, a serial mediation pathway through life-space mobility and depressive symptoms explained 8.5% of the total effect. Independently, life-space mobility mediated 17.5% and depressive symptoms mediated 17.1% of the total effect. These findings confirm that grip strength predicts cognitive status in aging populations, with life-space mobility and depressive symptoms serving as significant mediators.