What can grip strength tell us about our overall health?
There is increasing evidence to suggest that grip strength can be used an indicator of overall health.
General take-aways:
Studies show that once age and socio-economic factors are taken into account, a stronger grip strength can a useful tool to measure life expectancy.
“Grip strength is often called a biomarker of aging,” said Mark Peterson, an associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and lead author of the paper listed below. “But the biological context for why it’s so predictive of positive and negative outcomes during aging hasn’t really been clear.”
We are often asked about grip strength in our sessions so we thought it would be useful to do a quick run-down of the more recent peer reviewed studies out there. If we’ve missed any, please let us know!
Grip strength is inversely associated with DNA methylation age acceleration
09 November 2022 The Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle
A study of 1,275 men and women
Handgrip strength used as a reliable marker of overall muscle quality and strength
Those with relatively weak handgrip strength, showed signs of accelerated aging of their DNA. Their genes appeared to be growing old faster than those of people with greater strength.
Raises the possibility that doing resistance training might increase longevity.
In general, the weaker someone’s grip strength was, the higher his or her epigenetic age. Their DNA appeared less youthful than that of their stronger contemporaries, leaving them potentially more vulnerable to earlier illness or death. [More on Epigenetic Age below]
May 13, 2015. The Lancet
140,000 adults
The study found that reduced handgrip strength was closely linked to mortality in people of all incomes and ages
Predicting risks for early death more effectively than blood pressure (a common proxy for life span)
Genome-wide Methylation Profiles Reveal Quantitative Views of Human Aging Rates
November 21, 2012.
Epigenomes are the epigenetic changes unique to each of us,
This study used the data to develop “epigenetic clocks” it estimate our biological age.
Chronological age is how old we are, whereas Biological age indicates the functional age and health of our cells and bodies. The two numbers can differ substantially.
Epigenetic clocks use algorithms to assess biological age, based on the various patterns of molecules on genes.
Published 08 May 2018, BMJ
502 293 participants (54% women) aged 40-69 years.
Although grip strength has long been a good indicator of frailty or health in older people, it could help doctors understand adults’ risk profile at all ages, including the odds of heart and lung disease, cancer and overall mortality
“Grip strength is easy to measure and may be useful in helping to predict future disease,” said senior study author Stuart Gray of the University of Glasgow.
Grip strength showed a stronger association with cardiovascular disease than blood pressure and physical activity.
After accounting for age and a wide range of other factors, such as diet, sedentary time and socioeconomic status, the researchers found that muscle weakness, defined as a grip-strength measurement of less than 26 kilograms (57 pounds) for men and less than 16 kg (35 lb) for women, was associated with higher overall risk of death and higher risk for specific illnesses.
Overall, the researchers note, people with the lowest grip strengths tended to have lower socioeconomic status and were more likely to smoke, to be obese and to have higher waist circumference and body fat percentage. They also ate fewer fruits and vegetables, exercised less and watched TV more.
