Reduced grip strength potentially indicates depression: Investigating multicontinental databases

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Limited multi-national research exists on the link between handgrip strength and depression in older adults.
• This study addresses this gap by analyzing data from Brazil, China, Europe, Korea, the UK, and the US.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between handgrip strength and depression in adults over 45 years old across diverse global regions.
• To determine if lower handgrip strength correlates with an increased likelihood of depression.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 51,285 participants aged over 45.
• Handgrip strength was categorized into quartiles (highest to lowest).
• Depression measures were converted to binary scores for analysis.

Main Results:

• Lower handgrip strength quartiles were consistently associated with higher odds of depression across most regions.
• Significant associations were observed in China, UK, Brazil, US, Korea, and Europe, with varying degrees.
• The strongest associations were found in Korea, particularly for females in the lowest handgrip strength group.

Conclusions:

• Reduced handgrip strength is a potential indicator for increased depression risk in middle and older-aged adults.
• Early handgrip strength assessment may serve as a screening tool for identifying at-risk populations.
• Further research is needed to explore causal relationships and potential interventions.