Faster Aging Linked to Weaker Hand Grip Strength

Faster Aging Linked to Weaker Hand Grip Strength

A study published in November 2022 found that individuals with relatively weak grip strength age more rapidly than those with stronger grip capacity.

The study, involving 1,275 men and women aged 50 and above in the United States, found that participants with relatively weak grip strength generally also had weaker overall muscle quality and strength. They also showed signs of faster DNA aging compared to individuals with stronger hand grip.

Although still in early stages, this research raises the possibility that visiting the gym or engaging in muscle-strengthening exercise could help reverse the biological clock — making our cells and bodies younger at a biological level, regardless of our current chronological age.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that physical strength is beneficial to health. People who engage in regular resistance training are substantially less likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure, and many other chronic conditions compared to those who do not perform muscle-strengthening exercise.

Strength can also be a predictor of life expectancy. In a 2015 study of nearly 140,000 adults across several countries, weakening grip strength was closely associated with mortality rates across all socioeconomic groups. Predicting the risk of premature death based on grip strength proved more accurate than using blood pressure, which is often considered one of the best indicators of life expectancy.

The study authors concluded that grip strength is a simple yet powerful predictor of future disability, morbidity, and mortality — and that this effect applies not only to older adults, but also to middle-aged and younger individuals.

Mark Peterson, a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, who led the newer study, stated: "Grip strength is often referred to as a biomarker of aging. But the biological context of why it is so predictive of positive and negative outcomes during aging has not really been clear." Researchers suspect the key lies in "epigenetic" factors.

The Role of Epigenetics in Aging

Epigenetics involves changes in the number and activity of certain small molecules that attach — much like mollusks — to the outer surface of genes, influencing how and when those genes are activated. Epigenetic changes occur in response to diet, exercise habits, and many other aspects of our lives, and they affect both our DNA and our overall health.

The role of epigenetics can be seen by comparing a person's chronological age with their biological age. Chronological age is our age according to our date of birth, while biological age reflects the functional age of our cells and body. If epigenetic measurements indicate that our biological age exceeds our chronological age, we are aging faster than average and approaching frailty and mortality sooner than someone whose biological age is lower than their chronological age.

In the study with 1,275 participants, blood tests were conducted alongside measurements using a handheld squeeze device called a hand dynamometer to assess grip strength. Researchers found that, in general, the weaker a person's grip strength, the higher their epigenetic age. Their DNA appeared less youthful compared to contemporaries with greater strength — making them potentially more vulnerable to disease or premature death.

Guillaume Paré, a professor and director of the Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, noted: "Overall, this research provides further support for the association of epigenetic age with frailty."

Beyond DNA, other contributing factors may include income, diet, health history, and other aspects of an individual's lifestyle.

What Grip Strength Indicates About Overall Health

Grip strength is not itself the direct cause of slower aging. Rather, it serves as an indicator of a person's overall physical condition. An individual who can grip strongly is likely to:

• have adequate muscle mass,
• possess sufficient motor function, and
• maintain generally adequate physical fitness overall.

These factors collectively contribute to healthier, more resilient aging — and serve as a compelling reason for seniors to incorporate regular strength training into their daily routine.

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