Grip strength and cognitive function of older adults through the chain mediating effect of life space mobility and depression

This study investigated the relationship between grip strength and cognitive function in older adults, focusing on the chained mediating effects of life-space mobility and depression. A multisite stratified sampling method was used to select 382 older adults from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Grip strength was measured using a dynamometer, while life-space mobility, depression status, and cognitive function were assessed via standardized scales. Statistical descriptions were performed using SPSS 27.0, while a chained mediation model was constructed using Model 6 of the PROCESS 4.2 plugin for SPSS 27.0. The mediation effects were tested via Bootstrap sampling (5000 repeated samples). Results revealed that the direct effect of grip strength on cognitive impairment accounted for 56.9% of the total effect. life-space mobility and depression exhibited chain mediating effects between grip strength and cognitive function, accounting for 8.5% of the total effect. The indirect mediating effects of life-space mobility and depression contributed 17.5% and 17.1% to the total effect, respectively. The study demonstrates a significant correlation between grip strength and cognitive function in older adults, with life-space mobility and depression playing significant mediating roles between these two variables.