Measuring Slowness in Old Age: Times to Perform Moberg Picking-Up and Walking Speed Tests.

Objectives: Slowness is a marker of frailty captured by the Fried phenotype by a walking speed test which, for health or logistical reasons, is sometimes difficult to perform. The Moberg picking-up test (MPUT) is another timed functional test. It measures hand motor activity and might represent an alternative to assess slowness when the walking speed cannot be evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between MPUT and walking speed.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting And Participants: In total, 2748 individuals aged 66 to 83 years who participated in the latest examination (2015-2017) of the population-based Lausanne cohort 65+ and completed both tests.

Methods: Walking speed (time to walk 20 meters at usual pace) and MPUT (time to pick up 12 objects) were compared using scatter graphs. Multivariate regression models further investigated the relationship between MPUT and walking times with adjustment for height, grip strength, body mass index, and Mini-Mental State Examination. All analyses were stratified by sex.

Results: MPUT and walking times were moderately, positively correlated in men (r = 0.38, P < .001) and in women (r = 0.38, P < .001). Higher grip strength and Mini-Mental State Examination performances were correlated to shorter MPUT and walking times. Men and women slower at the MPUT were also significantly slower at the walking speed test when adjusting for height (P < .001) as well as in fully adjusted models (P < .001).

Conclusions And Implications: These preliminary results point to a positive association between MPUT and walking speed independent of muscle strength and cognition. Further research is needed to investigate the capacity of MPUT to predict adverse health outcomes before considering this test as an alternative measure of slowness in the assessment of frailty.