Grip Strength: An Indispensable Biomarker For Older Adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Biomarkers
• Public Health

Background:

• Grip strength is increasingly recognized for its potential as a key health biomarker.
• Existing research suggests associations between grip strength and various health parameters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate grip strength as a comprehensive biomarker for health status in older adults.
• To assess the concurrent and predictive value of grip strength across a wide range of health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and evidence synthesis of studies examining grip strength.
• Analysis of grip strength's association with concurrent health indicators and future health events.

Main Results:

• Grip strength consistently explains concurrent overall strength, upper limb function, bone mineral density, and risk of fractures and falls.
• It is also linked to malnutrition, cognitive impairment, depression, sleep issues, diabetes, multimorbidity, and quality of life.
• Grip strength predicts mortality, future function, bone density, fractures, cognition, depression, and hospitalization risks.

Conclusions:

• Grip strength is a valuable, consistent biomarker for assessing health in older adults.
• Routine measurement of grip strength is recommended for identifying at-risk individuals.
• It can be used alone or with other tests to screen for poor health status.