Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
07:22
Measuring the Motor Aspect of Cancer-Related Fatigue using a Handheld Dynamometer
Published on: February 20, 2020
Heterogeneity in aging: exploring grip strength variability in population-based age-sex cohorts
Richard H Fortinsky1, Lisa C Barry1, Katherine Zavez2
1UConn Center on Aging, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, United States.
Summary
Aging heterogeneity in grip strength differs between sexes. Male grip strength variance decreases with age cross-sectionally but increases longitudinally, while female variance remains stable.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sex Differences in Aging
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Aging is characterized by increased heterogeneity, or variability, in individual traits.
- Sex-specific patterns and longitudinal changes in aging heterogeneity are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex differences in aging heterogeneity using grip strength.
- To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal patterns of grip strength variance across age groups.
Main Methods:
- Utilized UK Biobank data (N=73,134) with individuals aged 40-69 at baseline.
- Analyzed grip strength variance cross-sectionally and longitudinally (4-18 year follow-up) in males and females separately.
- Compared variance patterns across age groups and over time, with and without covariates.
Main Results:
- Cross-sectionally, male grip strength variance decreased with age; female variance showed no significant age-related change.
- Longitudinally, male grip strength variance increased within age groups over time; female variance remained stable.
- Covariates partially explained but did not eliminate observed sex differences in trends.
Conclusions:
- Aging heterogeneity in grip strength exhibits distinct sex-specific patterns.
- Longitudinal analysis reveals increasing heterogeneity in males over time, contrasting with cross-sectional findings.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
01:00Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are not...
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
01:26Aging
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...