Could how strong you are determine how long you live? Researchers have uncovered a surprising link between muscle strength and the risk of developing common diseases that create common health issues and shorten lifespan. New research also reveals how our DNA, the genetic information we carry in each cell in our body affects how well we age. And here’s the interesting part – strong muscles might be the key to unlocking a healthier you! How do we know this?
A new study from the University of Jyväskylä shines new light on the intricate relationship between genetic predisposition for muscle strength and the risk of developing health issues. The study is one of the most comprehensive investigations into the genetic basis of muscle strength and how it impacts health and health risks that affect wellness and longevity.
How the Study Was Carried Out
The research team that performed this study tapped into data from the extensive FinnGen dataset. This database stores health and genome data from over 340,000 Finns. By using a polygenic score, which brings together the influences of numerous genetic variants, they concluded that muscle strength isn’t determined strictly by lifestyle choices, what you eat, and how much you work your muscles, but also by genetics.
Here’s what the study found. Men and women who are genetically predisposed to higher muscle strength may enjoy longevity advantages. Stronger people, based on this study, have a longer lifespan and are at a lower risk of developing common noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. The practical application is that we can gain some information about a person’s propensity to live longer by measuring muscle strength. How? By measuring hand grip strength.
Why might having stronger muscles increase the odds of living longer? Muscle strength is a marker of a person’s ability to ward off or recover from age-related health issues and disability. However, in the study, having stronger muscles didn’t correlate with the ability to survive acute health events that are more severe in nature, like injury from a devastating car accident or an infection that rages out of control and requires intensive care.
These results suggest that higher muscle strength, particularly hand grip strength, is an indicator of an individual’s physiological capacity to withstand age-related diseases and disabilities. This information could add to other markers of health and longevity that healthcare providers use, like blood pressure, blood lipids, body weight, etc. This isn’t the first time that hand grip strength has been in the spotlight. Previous research shows that a stronger hand grip is associated with reduced mortality in people of both genders. They even say it could be a better marker than more conventional markers, like blood pressure.
Imagine this scenario: You visit your doctor and after checking your blood pressure and drawing blood for labs, they measure your grip strength and document it in your chart, just as they record your weight, height, blood pressure, and heart rate. Another piece of useful information. The instrument healthcare providers use to measure grip strength is called a dynamometer and it’s a simple test. Plus, the instrument is inexpensive.
To measure your grip strength, you sit with your elbow flexed to 90 degrees squeeze the device as hard as you can, and hold for 3 seconds. Your doctor would then record the value. Based on how strong you squeeze, they make some predictions about how long you might live and your level of health. It’s just one measure, but a useful one and one your healthcare provider can use in conjunction with other markers for health risk.
A New Way to Predict Your Health Future
It’s fascinating that a simple, non-invasive measure, like muscle strength, has predictive abilities. How strong you can grip is influenced by a variety of factors, including our muscle mass, bone density, and the integrity of your brain and nerves. With this simple, in-office measurement, doctors could identify weaknesses that might place you at higher risk of future health problems. They might also recommend strengthening your muscles through resistance training. At least they should!
So, the next time you’re shaking someone’s hand, appreciate the incredible complexity and potential hidden within that simple gesture. Your hand grip may tell a story about your health. It may also show how resilient you are from a health standpoint. As we continue to explore this intriguing connection between hand grip strength and longevity, who knows what other surprising discoveries might be on the horizon?
Lifestyle Matters Too
While genetics is a factor in how strong you are, lifestyle plays a powerful role in your health now and in the future. The choices you make, how much you move your body, work your muscles against resistance, and what you eat, are a major determiner of how long you live and the quality of your life.
By engaging in regular physical activity, boosting muscle strength through resistance training, eating a balanced diet, and making self-care a top priority, you build the resilience needed to thrive in the face of life’s challenges. So, take charge of your health, harness the power of your muscles, and embrace the incredible potential that lies within you. The future of longevity is in your hands and within your grip – quite literally!
References:
- Inherited predisposition for higher muscle strength may protect against common morbidities. ScienceDaily. Published 2024. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240412113456.htm
- Lee SH, Gong HS. Measurement and Interpretation of Handgrip Strength for Research on Sarcopenia and Osteoporosis. J Bone Metab. 2020 May;27(2):85-96. doi: 10.11005/jbm.2020.27.2.85. Epub 2020 May 31. PMID: 32572369; PMCID: PMC7297622.
- “Grip strength measured by high precision dynamometry in healthy ….” 10 Jun. 2015, https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-015-0612-4.
- “Grip Strength – Physiopedia.” https://www.physio-pedia.com/Grip_Strength.
- Avan Aihie Sayer, Kirkwood TBL. Grip strength and mortality: a biomarker of ageing? Lancet. 2015;386(9990):226-227. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(14)62349-7
- “The Importance of Grip Strength: Exploring its Link to Longevity.” https://longevity.stanford.edu/lifestyle/2023/04/04/what-does-grip-strength-indicate-about-your-health/.
- Leong DP, Teo KK, Rangarajan S, et al. Prognostic value of grip strength: findings from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. Lancet. 2015;386(9990):266-273. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(14)62000-6
Related Articles By Cathe:
The Real Reason Americans Are Living Longer
Can a Nordic Diet Help You Live Longer?
