Grip Strength: An Indispensable Biomarker For Older Adults

• Published in: Clinical interventions in aging Vol. 14; pp. 1681 - 1691
• Main Author: Bohannon, Richard W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2019; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Accidental falls; Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; aging; Batteries; biomarker; Bone density; Cognition; Depression (Mood disorder); Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Elderly; Epidemiology; Female; Fractures (Injuries); Geriatric Assessment; Hand Strength - physiology; health outcomes; Health Status; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Malnutrition; mortality; Multimorbidity; muscle strength; Physical Endurance - physiology; Quality of Life - psychology; rehabilitation; Review; Sleep; Sleep disorders; Type 2 diabetes; United Kingdom; South Korea; muscle strength; epidemiology; health outcomes; rehabilitation; mortality; aging; biomarker
• ISSN: 1178-1998; 1176-9092; 1178-1998
• DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S194543

Grip strength has been proposed as a biomarker. Supporting this proposition, evidence is provided herein that shows grip strength is largely consistent as an explanator of concurrent overall strength, upper limb function, bone mineral density, fractures, falls, malnutrition, cognitive impairment, depression, sleep problems, diabetes, multimorbidity, and quality of life. Evidence is also provided for a predictive link between grip strength and all-cause and disease-specific mortality, future function, bone mineral density, fractures, cognition and depression, and problems associated with hospitalization. Consequently, the routine use of grip strength can be recommended as a stand-alone measurement or as a component of a small battery of measurements for identifying older adults at risk of poor health status.