Why grip strength may be one of the best predictors of how well-and how long-you live
National Geographic••health
Key Points:
- Hand grip strength is a powerful indicator of overall health, reflecting muscle quality, nerve function, coordination, and the integrated functioning of multiple body systems, making it a valuable "functional vital sign."
- Research shows that weaker grip strength is strongly associated with higher risks of chronic diseases, disability, and early mortality, often predicting outcomes more accurately than traditional measures like blood pressure or BMI.
- Grip strength correlates with biological aging, resilience to illness, and brain health, influencing independence, mobility, mental health, and the ability to recover from physiological stress.
- Muscle strength typically declines with age due to loss of muscle mass, motor neurons, hormonal changes, inflammation, and inactivity, but regular resistance training, grip exercises, and proper nutrition—especially adequate protein
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