WHICH NEIGHBORHOOD FEATURES MATTER MOST FOR MUSCLE STRENGTH? FINDINGS FROM THE HEALTH AND RETIREMENT STUDY

TitleWHICH NEIGHBORHOOD FEATURES MATTER MOST FOR MUSCLE STRENGTH? FINDINGS FROM THE HEALTH AND RETIREMENT STUDY
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsDuchowny, KA, L Diaz-Ramirez, G, W Boscardin, J, Cawthon, P, Glymour, M, Gomez, SLin
JournalInnovation in Aging
Volume6
Issue 1Suppl
Pagination254–255
KeywordsGrip strength, Muscle Strength, Neighborhood characteristics
Abstract

Linking data from the National Neighborhood Data Archive (NaNDA) to the 2006-2018 Health and Retirement Study (N=22,245), we fit linear mixed models to assess which of 22 built and social neighborhood environment variables predicted grip strength, a measure of total-body muscle strength. Among 22,245 respondents (mean age=63 years, SD=9.2) with up to 4 grip strength measures, neighborhood physical disorder (B= -0.25 kg, 95% CI= -0.37,-0.13), number of parks (B= 0.05 kg, 95% CI= 0.01, 0.10), number of gyms/fitness centers (B=-0.44 kg, 95% CI= -0.82, -0.07), proportion of highly developed land (B=-2.06 kg, 95% CI=-4.06, -0.07), and % urban (B=-0.66 kg, 95% CI=-1.27, -0.05) were associated with grip strength level after adjustment. No social neighborhood variables were associated with grip strength. Although preliminary, findings suggest that highly developed urbanized land may be a barrier to maintaining muscle strength in later life, but resources such as parks are associated with better outcomes.

DOI10.1093/geroni/igac059.1010
Citation Key13027