# Identifying Older Adults at Risk of Accelerated Decline in Gait Speed and Grip Strength: Insights from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS)

## TL;DR

This study identifies older adults at risk of declining physical function over 10 years using gait speed and grip strength data from the NHATS.

## Contribution

The study reveals distinct long-term physical decline patterns and associated risk factors in older adults.

## Key findings

- Three distinct 10-year trajectories (worsening, stable, improving) were identified for gait speed and grip strength.
- Over one-third of participants experienced worsening in at least one measure of physical function.
- Lower income, Medicaid coverage, cognitive impairment, and chronic conditions were linked to worsening trajectories.

## Abstract

Gait speed and grip strength are widely used measures of physical function in older adults and are predictive of disability, hospitalization, and mortality. However, there is a limited understanding of the long-term trajectories of these measures and which older adults are at the highest risk of functional decline. We used data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) to identify subgroups of community-dwelling older adults with distinct 10-year trajectories in gait speed and grip strength and to examine the baseline factors associated with these patterns. The sample included 4961 adults aged 65 years and older who completed gait speed and grip strength assessments in 2011 and at least one subsequent wave between 2013 and 2021. Using latent class growth analysis, we identified three trajectories for each measure: worsening, stable, and improving. More than one-third of participants were in the worsening group for at least one measure. In multinomial logistic regression models, lower income, Medicaid coverage, cognitive impairment, and multiple chronic conditions were associated with membership in worsening trajectory groups. These findings highlight the heterogeneity of physical aging and the importance of the early identification of older adults who may benefit from targeted interventions to maintain function and independence over time.