{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,11]],"date-time":"2025-09-11T17:30:05Z","timestamp":1757611805698,"version":"3.44.0"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,4]],"date-time":"2025-09-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756944000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Aging Neurosci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Cognitive decline in older adults is a pressing public health concern, with emerging evidence suggesting that both muscle strength and neural function may influence cognitive outcomes. However, the integrative mechanisms linking these domains remain insufficiently understood.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title><jats:p>This study aimed to explore whether resting-state EEG characteristics and working memory mediate the relationship between muscle strength and global cognitive function in older adults with cognitive impairment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 137 older adults (mean age\u202f=\u202f72.65\u202f\u00b1\u202f7.75) with cognitive impairment. Muscle strength was assessed using grip strength and 30\u202fs chair stand tests. Resting-state EEG power across six frequency bands was recorded from 16 electrodes. Working memory was evaluated using a two-back task, and cognitive function was assessed via the MoCA. Mediation analyses were performed using the PROCESS macro (Model 4), controlling for age, sex, education, and BMI.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Grip strength showed significant direct effects on cognitive function (<jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.399, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001), with partial mediation by both working memory (\u03b2\u202f=\u202f0.070, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.05) and resting-state EEG (<jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.150, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.01). In contrast, lower limb strength was mediated only by working memory (\u03b2\u202f=\u202f0.078, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.05), while EEG-based mediation was not significant. The overall model explained 50.7% of the variance in cognitive outcomes.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>This study highlights the distinct mediating roles of working memory and EEG features in the muscle strength\u2013cognition relationship. Grip strength, as a potential biomarker, may reflect central nervous system integrity and serve as a target for cognitive health interventions in aging populations.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fnagi.2025.1641209","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,4]],"date-time":"2025-09-04T04:12:04Z","timestamp":1756959124000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Muscle strength, EEG biomarkers, and working memory as interacting predictors of cognitive function in cognitively impaired older adults"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Yagang","family":"Song","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Shuqi","family":"Jia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xing","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Aiwei","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Shufan","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Feng","family":"Ding","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tao","family":"Ma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xueping","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0194878","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0194878","article-title":"Working memory, age and education: a lifespan fmri study","volume":"13","author":"Archer","year":"2018","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"815","DOI":"10.1186\/s13063-019-3871-9","article-title":"A randomised controlled trial of an exercise intervention promoting activity, independence and stability in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and early dementia (praised)\u2014a protocol","volume":"20","author":"Bajwa","year":"2019","journal-title":"Trials"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"229","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/gby024","article-title":"Aging and n-Back performance: a Meta-analysis","volume":"75","author":"Bopp","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. 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