Low Grip Strength Linked to Impaired Cognition, Memory Loss in Older Americans

A study in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease suggests a poor handgrip may signal impaired cognition and memory in older Americans, reports University of Michigan News . Examination of about 14,000 participants from the 2006 Health and Retirement Study, age 50 and older, over eight years determined each five-kilogram reduction in handgrip strength was linked to a 10 percent greater likelihood for any cognitive impairment and an 18 percent higher risk for severe cognitive impairment. The researchers inferred from the findings that a reduction in grip strength is associated with neural degeneration, which highlights the importance of muscle-building exercise. "These findings suggest that this is another instance where you're seeing that staying physically active affects your overall health and your cognitive health," said University of Michigan School of Nursing Professor Sheria Robinson-Lane.