New Study Findings Link Lower Handgrip Strength with Cognitive Impairment

Findings from a new study reveal a link between low handgrip strength and higher likelihood of cognitive impairment in adults 50 years of age or older. Researchers reviewed data over an 8-year period from almost 14,000 people age 50 or older. They found that:

  • Each 5-kilogram decrease in handgrip strength was linked to 10% greater odds of having any cognitive impairment.
  • For those with severe cognitive impairment, the odds of a lower grip strength were 18% greater than for all others in the study.

The studyโ€™s findings suggest that assessing handgrip strength in older adults may be a cost effective, easy way to detect cognitive impairmentโ€”in combination with other measuresโ€”and identify those who may benefit from early interventions.

This study was funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and appeared in the Journal of Alzheimerโ€™s Disease. You can learn more about this study on the NIA website.

Last Updated on April 28, 2020

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