Open Access<p>Grip Strength: An Indispensable Biomarker For Older Adults</p>
Author(s) -
Richard W. Bohan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
clinical interventions in aging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.184
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1178-1998
pISSN - 1176-9092
DOI - 10.2147/cia.s194543
Subject(s) - grip strength , medicine , bone mineral , depression (economics) , biomarker , physical medicine and rehabilitation , malnutrition , cognition , hand strength , physical therapy , gerontology , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , osteoporosis , psychiatry , biochemistry , chemistry , economics , macroeconomics
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.