Weak handgrip may warn of cognitive impairment

  • A large study finds weaker handgrip strength is associated with a progressively greater risk of developing severe cognitive impairment.
  • Another large long-running study similarly finds slow walking speeds and weak grip strength is associated with a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
  • Weaker grip strength, in those older than 65, was also linked to a higher risk of stroke.

A large study, involving nearly 14,000 older adults (50+) participating in the 2006 Health and Retirement Study, found that weaker handgrip strength was associated with a greater risk of developing cognitive impairment, especially severe impairment, over the eight-year study period.

Moreover, there was a dose-response type relationship, with every 5-kilogram (11-pound) reduction in handgrip strength being associated with a 10% greater risk of cognitive impairment and an 18% greater risk of severe cognitive impairment.

Handgrip strength was assessed with a hand-held dynamometer, and cognitive function with a modified Mini-Mental State Examination.

It’s suggested that reduced grip strength is associated with neural degeneration, but that maintaining your physical strength will protect you.

Data from the very long-running Framingham Heart Study also found that those who had slow walking speeds and weak grip strength had a significantly greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in the next 11 years. Additionally, those older than 65 years had a higher risk of stroke if their hand grip strength was weak.

Participants were aged 35-84. Walking speed was assessed by walking a certain distance as fast as they could without running.

https://www.futurity.org/handgrip-cognitive-impairment-2141932-2/http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-08/bumc-sra081016.phphttps://www.j-alz.com/content/study-reveals-association-between-physical-function-and-neurological-disease

Reference: 

McGrath, R., Robinson-Lane, S. G., Cook, S., Clark, B. C., Herrmann, S., O’Connor, M. L., & Hackney, K. J. (2019). Handgrip Strength Is Associated with Poorer Cognitive Functioning in Aging Americans. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 70(4), 1187–1196. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-190042

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