Dexterity Limitations in Older Adults are on the Rise: Trends in Hand Function Over 20 years and the Effects of Covid-19
Rachel Logue Cook, Sandra Hunter, Susan Brown

TL;DR
This study shows that hand dexterity issues in older adults have increased over 20 years, especially after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Contribution
The study reveals a significant rise in dexterity limitations among older adults, particularly women, post-Covid-19.
Findings
Dexterity limitations in older adults increased significantly after 2015 and continued through the 2021-2023 cycle.
Covid-19 led to a notable rise in dexterity issues, with a 33.2% increase in females and a 6.6% increase in males.
The largest increases were observed in adults aged 70-74, especially women.
Abstract
Hand dexterity is important for completing activities of daily living and is a strong predictor of functional capacity and independence. However, the prevalence of dexterity limitations among the aging population, particularly after the onset of Covid-19, is largely unknown. We used data from the 2001-2023 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to identify 15,222 adults aged ≥65. Participants were asked to report whether they had difficulty grasping and handling small objects and were categorized as having a dexterity limitation or no limitation. We determined the population proportion of males and females that reported limitations for each cycle and calculated percentage changes in limitations over the past 20 years and pre- and post-Covid-19. Dexterity limitations remained relatively stable from 2001-2014 for both men (∼16%) and women (∼19%) but…
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Taxonomy
TopicsNutrition and Health in Aging · Motor Control and Adaptation · Physical Activity and Health
