The relationship between muscle strength and working memory in older adults: fNIRS-based evidence

The findings indicate that normalized grip strength, more so than normalized 30-s sit-up, is associated with the level of prefrontal hemodynamic activation during working memory tasks in older adults. This association is finely modulated by the functional hierarchy of the prefrontal cortex and task complexity. This highlights that standardized grip strength may be a key biomarker linked to the physical-mental health nexus, informing the development of resistance training interventions aimed at preserving cognitive health.