Effect of grip strength on mental health

Is inflammation a missing link between relative handgrip strength with hyperlipidemia? Evidence from a large population-based study

BACKGROUND

Relative handgrip strength (RHGS) was positively correlated with healthy levels of cardiovascular markers and negatively correlated with metabolic disease risk. However, its association with hyperlipidemia remains unknown. The present study investigated the link between RHGS and hyperlipidemia, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and further examined the hypothesis that inflammation may serve a mediating role within this relationship.

METHODS

Data were extracted from 4610 participants in the NHANES database spanning 2011-2014 to explore the correlation between RHGS and hyperlipidemia using multivariate logistic regression models. Subgroup analyses were conducted to discern the correlation between RHGS and hyperlipidemia across diverse populations. Additionally, smooth curve fitting and threshold effect analysis were conducted to validate the association between RHGS and hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, the potential mediating effect of inflammation on this association was also explored.

RESULTS

According to the fully adjusted model, RHGS was negatively correlated with hyperlipidemia [odds ratio (OR) = 0.575, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.515 to 0.643], which was consistently significant across all populations, notably among women. Smooth curve fitting and threshold effect analysis substantiated the negative association between RHGS and hyperlipidemia. Moreover, the mediating effects analysis indicated the white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil (Neu) count, and lymphocyte (Lym) count played roles as the mediators, with mediation ratios of 7.0%, 4.3%, and 5.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified a prominent negative correlation between RHGS and hyperlipidemia. Elevated RHGS may serve as a protective factor against hyperlipidemia, potentially through mechanisms underlying the modulation of inflammatory processes.

Hand Grip Strength, Osteoporosis, and Quality of Life in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Background and Objectives: Hand grip strength (HGS) and osteoporosis are known to be closely related to the health condition of the elderly, respectively. Comprehensive studies including adults over middle age were insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between HGS with osteoporosis and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults aged >40 years. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included data from 13,966 people aged >40 years between 2015 to 2018 provided by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The HGS was divided into strong and weak quartiles, defined as the highest and lowest quartiles, respectively. We used the European Quality of Life Scale-Five dimensions (EQ-5D) for HRQoL. We performed multiple logistic regression and post hoc analysis to confirm the relationship between the four groups and HRQoL. Results: Osteoporotic patients with weak HGS showed the lowest EQ-5D index (0.87 ± 0.01) among all groups and had a significantly impaired HRQoL in all EQ-5D dimensions, at least 1.75 times more than healthy individuals with strong HGS (0.95 ± 0.00). Osteoporotic patients with weak HGS showed, notably, 2.68 times more impaired mobility compared to healthy individuals with strong HGS among all five dimensions of the EQ-5D. In self-care, significant sex differences in impaired HRQoL were observed (males 6.03, 2.23-16.35; females 2.51, 1.70-3.71). Conclusions: Weak HGS and the presence of osteoporosis were associated with low HRQoL, respectively. Middle-aged and older adults with both weak HGS and osteoporosis showed poorer HRQoL compared to healthy middle-aged and older adults. This suggests that HGS is a possible factor for predicting poor HRQoL in adults aged >40 years with or without osteoporosis. It is necessary to assess the risk of low HRQoL by measuring HGS and confirming whether osteoporosis is accompanied in adults over middle age.

Associations between grip strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiovascular risk and mental health in forcibly displaced people from a Greek refugee camp

Muscular strength represents a specific component of health-related fitness. Hand grip strength is used as a simple and dynamic marker of maximum voluntary force of the hand and to estimate overall strength. Today, little is known about the relationship between grip strength and health in forcibly displaced populations. In the present study, we examined whether grip strength is associated with various health outcomes in a sample of forcibly displaced people living in a Greek refugee camp. The present analyses are part of a larger pragmatic randomized controlled trial. In this paper, cross-sectional baseline data of 143 participants (71 men, 72 women) will be presented. In addition to grip strength, the following physical and mental health outcomes were assessed: body weight and body composition, blood pressure, total cholesterol, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose levels (HbA1c), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depressive and anxiety symptoms, pain, and quality of life. Linear regression analyses were carried out to examine how grip strength is associated with the health outcomes, separately for absolute and normalized grip strength scores. Grip strength was positively and strongly associated with percentage muscle mass (normalized grip strength: Stand. B = 0.58, p < .001), whereas a negative association existed for percentage body fat (normalized grip strength: Stand. B = - 0.58, p < .001). No statistically significant associations occurred between grip strength and the other cardiovascular risk markers. In contrast, we found that participants with higher normalized grip strength reported higher levels of PTSD (normalized grip strength: Stand. B = 0.36, p < .05) and depressive symptoms (normalized grip strength: Stand. B = 0.29, p < .05). No significant association occurred between grip strength, anxiety, pain and quality of life. Measuring grip strength in forcibly displaced people can be a useful way to assess their overall muscle strength. Grip strength tests are easy to implement, and results can be used to assess the effects of specific intervention measures. Nevertheless, our results question the usefulness of grip strength as a marker of cardiovascular health and mental wellbeing in a refugee camp setting.

Educational attainment and anxiety in middle-aged and older Europeans

We examined the relationship between educational attainment (EA) and anxiety symptoms in a sample of 77,792 individuals (median age = 64 years, 55% female) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Using logistic regression, we estimated odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between EA (7 educational levels based on International Standard Classification of Education) and anxiety symptoms (12 or more points from the shortened 5-item version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory), adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors. We further explored whether the relationship varied by region, sex and age group. Independent of sociodemographic and health-related factors, higher levels of EA were associated with lower odds of anxiety symptoms. The magnitude of this association plateaued at first stage of tertiary education (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.35-0.47, p < 0.001). The association was stronger in females, middle-aged individuals and in Central and Eastern Europe while not apparent in Northern Europe. Our findings suggest that individuals with higher education might be protected against anxiety throughout life. The protective effect of education against anxiety symptoms is more pronounced in less egalitarian regions and in females.

Associations of pyrethroid exposure with skeletal muscle strength and mass

This study aimed to examine the associations of pyrethroid exposure with handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass and potential modification effects in US adults. The data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used. Handgrip strength was determined with a handgrip dynamometer, and we quantified muscle mass by using the appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI). Urinary 3-Phenoxybenzoic Acid (3-PBA), a validated biomarker for pyrethroid exposure, was used in the primary analysis. After adjusting for other covariates, participants exposed to the highest tertile of 3-PBA exposure had significantly lower handgrip strength (β = -1.88, 95% CI: -3.29, -0.23, P = 0.026) than those exposed to the lowest tertile of 3-PBA. Similarly, the 3-PBA exposure was marginally significantly associated with ASMI (Tertile 3 vs. Tertile 1: β = -0.07, 95% CI: -0.14, -0.01, P = 0.056). Significant interactions were found between 3-PBA and body mass index (BMI) on handgrip strength and ASMI (P interaction < 0.05), which indicated a potential moderation effect of BMI on the associations. In conclusion, pyrethroid exposure was adversely associated with handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass, especially in overweight and obese populations. Further studies are warranted to confirm our results and to explore the potential mechanisms.

Depression and Hand-Grip: Unraveling the Association

This review article explores the association between hand-grip strength and depression. A total of 14 studies were carefully considered to provide a comprehensive analysis of the topic. The studies reveal a consistent association between low hand-grip strength and depressive symptoms, independent of age, gender, and chronic disease status. The evidence suggests that hand-grip strength assessment could be a useful tool for identifying individuals at risk of depression, particularly older adults and those with chronic diseases. Incorporating physical activity and strength training into treatment plans can contribute to better mental health outcomes. Hand-grip strength assessment can also be used as a monitoring tool to track changes in physical and mental health over time in individuals with depression. Healthcare professionals should consider the relationship between hand-grip strength and depression when evaluating patients and developing treatment plans. The findings from this comprehensive clinical review have important clinical implications and highlight the importance of considering physical health factors in the context of mental health.

Muscle strength and incidence of depression and anxiety: findings from the UK Biobank prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety are the leading mental health problems worldwide; depression is ranked as the leading cause of global disability with anxiety disorders ranked sixth. Preventive strategies based on the identification of modifiable factors merit exploration. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations of handgrip strength (HGS) with incident depression and anxiety and to explore how these associations differ by socio-demographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors.

METHODS

The analytic sample comprised 162 167 participants (55% women), aged 38-70 years, from the UK Biobank prospective cohort study. HGS was assessed at baseline using dynamometry. Depression and anxiety were extracted from primary care and hospital admission records. Cox proportional models were applied, with a 2 year landmark analysis, to investigate the associations between HGS and incident depression and anxiety.

RESULTS

Of the 162 167 participants included, 5462 (3.4%) developed depression and 6614 (4.1%) anxiety, over a median follow-up period of 10.0 years (inter-quartile range: 9.3-10.8) for depression and 9.9 (inter-quartile range: 9.0-10.8) for anxiety. In the fully adjusted model, a 5 kg lower HGS was associated with a 7% (HR: 1.07 [95% CI: 1.05, 1.10]; P < 0.001) and 8% (HR: 1.08 [95% CI: 1.06, 1.10]; P < 0.001) higher risk of depression and anxiety, respectively. Compared with participants in the sex and age-specific highest tertiles of HGS, those in the medium and lowest tertiles had an 11% (HR: 1.11 [95% CI: 1.04, 1.19]; P = 0.002) and 24% (HR: 1.24 [95% CI: 1.16, 1.33]; P < 0.001) higher risk of depression and 13% (HR: 1.13 [95% CI: 1.06, 1.20]; P < 0.001) and 27% (HR: 1.27 [95% CI: 1.19, 1.35]; P < 0.001) higher risk of anxiety, respectively. The association of HGS with depression was stronger among participants with average or brisk walking pace (vs. slow walking pace; P_interaction  < 0.001). The association with anxiety was stronger in those participants aged ≥58 years (vs. ≤58 years; P_interaction  = 0.002) and those living in more affluent areas (vs. deprived; P_interaction  = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Handgrip strength was inversely associated with incident depression and anxiety. Because HGS is a simple, non-invasive, and inexpensive measure, it could be easily used in clinical practice to stratify patients and identify those at elevated risk of mental health problems. However, future research should assess if resistance training aimed at increasing HGS can prevent the occurrence of mental health conditions.

Weak Hand Grip Strength Is Associated with Alexithymia in Outpatients in a Mexican Population

Hand grip strength has been considered as a possible marker for metabolic and psychiatric disease. To date, however, no research has focused on the association between alexithymia and hand grip strength. The objective of the present study was to investigate the correct association between hand grip strength and alexithymia. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Comalcalco, Tabasco, México. A total of 246 individuals were included. Hand grip strength was evaluated in the dominant hand using a Takei^® portable digital dynamometer. Alexithymia was measured using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Two linear regression models adjusted by confounders were used to determine the association between alexithymia and hand grip strength. The rate for positive alexithymia was 39.0% (n = 94). Individuals with alexithymia showed a weaker hand grip strength than the comparison group (t = 2.4, 244 df, p = 0.01). Individuals with alexithymia had significantly reduced levels of hand grip strength (β = −0.39 ± 0.14; p = 0.006); after additional adjustment for clinical variables, decreased hand grip strength remained (β = 8.00 ± 1.86; p ≤ 0.001). Our results suggest that a decrease in hand grip strength could be associated with alexithymia. This measurement could be useful as a predictive marker for the identification of alexithymia in Mexican individuals who attend outpatient clinics.

Lifetime serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH) is associated with hand grip strengths: insight from a Mendelian randomisation

Clinical trials have suggested that increased 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) has positive effect on hand grip strength. This Mendelian randomisation (MR) was implemented using summary-level data from the largest genome-wide association studies on vitamin D (n = 73,699) and hand grip strength. Inverse variance weighted method (IVW) was used to estimate the causal estimates. Weighted median (WM)-based method, MR-Egger and leave-one-out were applied as sensitivity analysis. Results showed that genetically higher-serum 25(OH)D levels had a positive effect on both right hand grip (IVW = Beta: 0.038, P = 0.030) and left hand grip (IVW = Beta: 0.034, P = 0.036). There was a low likelihood (statistically insignificant) of heterogeneity and pleiotropy, and the observed associations were not driven by single single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Furthermore, MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier did not highlight any outliers. In conclusion, our results highlighted the causal and beneficial effect of serum 25(OH) D on right- and left-hand grip strengths.

Association between Handgrip Strength and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006-2018)

Accumulating research indicates that handgrip strength is associated with cognitive function. Studies have also shown the difference in cognitive decline between males and females. We investigated the association between baseline handgrip strength and later cognitive function in older adults according to sex using the dataset from Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006–2018). Overall, 9707 observations of 1750 participants (989 males and 761 females) over 65 years of age were sampled from the first wave, followed by six consecutive waves. The Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination and baseline handgrip strength scores were assessed. Sociodemographic and health-related variables were also included as covariates in the multivariable linear mixed models. Males in the lowest quartile of the baseline handgrip strength decreased in cognitive function (β = −0.54, standard error (SE) = 0.16, p < 0.001), compared to males in the highest quartile. For females, those in the second lowest quartile (β = −0.65, SE = 0.19, p < 0.001) and the lowest quartile (β = −0.53, SE = 0.19, p< 0.01) decreased in cognitive function. Handgrip strength may be positively associated with later cognitive function, but the association may be non-linear and differ between sexes. Sex-specific preventive assessment of handgrip strength may help identify older adults at risk for cognitive impairment.

The impact of aging and reaching movements on grip stability control during manual precision tasks

Background

Operating an object by generating stable hand-grip force during static or dynamic posture control of the upper extremities simultaneously is an important daily activity. Older adults require different attentional resources during grip strength control and arm movements. However, the impact of aging and reaching movements on precise grip strength and stability control among older adults is not well understood. This study investigated the impact of aging and reaching movements on grip strength and stability control in both hands of the upper extremities.

Methods

Fifty healthy young adults (age: 28.8 ± 14.0 years) and 54 healthy older adults (73.6 ± 6.3 years) were recruited to perform isometric grip strength test at 20% maximal voluntary contraction as the target force during three manual precision tasks simultaneously: stationary task (without arm movements), forward-reach task, and backward-reach task. The average grip force (in kg) and coefficient of variation values (expressed as a percentage) during manual precision tasks were calculated to determine the quality of participants’ grip strength. The deviation error, absolute error, and force-stability index values were calculated to determine the strength control relative to the target force.

Results

For both the young and older groups, the force-stability index values in both hands were significantly higher during forward- and backward-reaching movements than in the stationary condition (p < 0.05). The older group exhibited a significantly lower hand-grip strength and stability of strength control in both hands than the young group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Aging and reaching task performance reduced the grip strength of participants and increased the variations in strength control of both hands relative to the target force, indicating that older adults exhibit poor grip strength and stability control when performing arm-reaching movements. These findings may help clinical therapists in establishing objective indexes for poor grip-stability control screening and developing appropriate rehabilitation programs or health-promotion exercises that can improve grip strength and stability control in older people.

Effects of the association between APOE rs405509 polymorphisms and gene-environment interactions on hand grip strength among middle-aged and elderly people in a rural population in southern China

Background

Hand grip strength is a complex phenotype. The current study aimed to identify the effects of the association between APOE rs405509 polymorphisms and gene-environment interactions on hand grip strength among middle-aged and elderly people in a rural population in Gongcheng, southern China.

Methods

APOE rs405509 polymorphisms in 1724 participants (695 men and 1029 women, aged 45–97 years old) were genotyped using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 21.0 and Plink 1.90.

Results

The APOE rs405509 G allele was associated with lower hand grip strength in all participants (β = −1.04, P value <0.001), and the correlation seemed to be even stronger among women. A significant gene-environment interaction was observed between APOE rs405509 and smoking, especially in men. The hand grip strength of male smokers carrying the GG genotype was significantly higher than that of nonsmokers (P value = 0.004).

Conclusions

APOE rs405509 polymorphisms might be genetic factors that affect hand grip strength in a rural population in Gongcheng, southern China. The APOE rs405509-smoking interaction has an impact on hand grip strength.

Healthy Behaviors Associated with Changes in Mental and Physical Strength in Urban African American and White Adults

Over time, adherence to healthy behaviors may improve physical and mental strength which is essential for successful aging. A plausible mechanism is the reduction of inflammation. Research on the association of risky health behaviors on change in strength with age is limited. This study examined changes in the inflammatory potential of the diet, smoking, illicit drug use with changes in strength in a racially and socioeconomically diverse adult sample from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Life Span study. The dietary inflammatory index (DII) was calculated from 35 food components derived from multiple 24-h dietary recalls. Strength was evaluated by handgrip strength (HGS), SF-12 PCS and SF-12 MCS (physical and mental component scores). Repeated measures analyses were used to examine associations. At baseline, mean age was 48.4 ± 0.25 years, 56% of the sample were women, and 58% African American. Significant 4-way interactions were found between age, race, socioeconomic status, and DII for women, on change in HGS (p < 0.05) and in SF-12 PCS (p < 0.05) and for men, in change in SF-12 PCS (p < 0.05). Improvements in SF-12 MCS were associated with all three health behaviors as main effects. This study provided evidence that changes towards improving healthy behaviors, diet with anti-inflammatory potential, not smoking cigarettes and not using illicit drugs, were associated with improved strength. Health professionals, especially registered dietitians and health coaches, should create lifestyle interventions to reduce inflammation targeting change in more than one risky health behavior.

The handgrip strength and risk of depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

PURPOSE

Many studies have investigated the association between handgrip strength (HGS) and depressive symptoms, but the conclusion remain controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the longitudinal association between HGS and risk of depressive symptoms.

METHODS

PubMed, PSYCINFO and EMBASE databases were searched for eligible publications up to April 2020. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random-effects model. Publication bias was estimated using Egger's test and the funnel plot. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of eligible studies.

RESULTS

The present meta-analysis included 8 cohort studies with 30,727 participants. Overall, higher HGS was related to a decreased risk of depressive symptoms: the pooled risk ratio (RR) of 0.74 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.65-0.85] with a moderate heterogeneity (I² = 60.5%, P = 0.013). HGS was significantly associated with a reduced risk of depressive symptoms in males (RR = 0.69; 95% CI 0.50-0.94), but not in females.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower HGS was associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to investigate the sex differences.

Is dynapenia associated with the onset and persistence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among older adults? Findings from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the current study was to assess the associations between dynapenia and the onset and persistence of depression and anxiety among older adults.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study enrolled community-living older adults (N = 5271; 51.1% females) aged ≥ 50 years (mean age = 63.2, standard deviation = 9.0) from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA), Ireland. At baseline, participants completed a handgrip assessment. Depression was defined by a score ≥ 16 in the Center of Epidemiology Studies Depression (CES-D) tool and anxiety was considered when participants scored ≥ 8 on the anxiety section of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Outcomes were incident and persistent depression and anxiety at two years follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression models were built for each outcome.

RESULTS

After controlling for age, sex, education, marital status, employment status, smoking, body mass index, number of chronic conditions, physical activity, and cognitive function, low handgrip strength indicative of dyapenia (< 30 Kg for men and < 20 Kg for women) was associated with a greater likelihood for incident depressive (OR = 1.44; 95%CI: 1.08-1.92) as well as for persistent depressive (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.01-2.58) and anxiety (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.20-2.14) symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Dynapenia was associated with a higher odds of developing depressive symptoms as well as a greater likelihood to persistent depressive and anxiety symptoms among older adults. Our data suggest that interventions targeting muscle strength may prevent the onset of late-life depression and also may hold promise as novel therapeutic opportunities for depression and anxiety in later life.

Exposure to phthalates is associated with grip strength in US adults

The potential association of exposure to phthalates with muscle strength was reported in previous animal experiments. However, their association was rarely directly investigated in general populations. Thus, we aimed to ascertain the association of exposure to phthalates with grip strength using cross-sectional analysis which included 2436 individuals aged ≥ 20 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 2011-2014. The multivariable linear regression models were performed with the adjustment of related covariates. The results suggested that a one-unit increase in log-transformed phthalate metabolites (μg/g creatinine) was inversely associated with grip strength, including Mono-(2-ethyl)-hexyl phthalate (β: -2.727 kg, 95% CI: -3.452, -2.002), Mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (β: -3.721 kg, 95% CI: -4.836, -2.607), Mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexl) phthalate (β: -4.669 kg, 95% CI: -5.761, -3.577), Mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate (β: -4.756 kg, 95% CI: -5.957, -3.554), Mono-carboxyoctyl phthalate (β: -1.324 kg, 95% CI: -2.412, -0.235), Mono-carboxynonyl phthalate (β: -2.036 kg, 95% CI: -3.185, -0.886), Mono-benzyl phthalate (β: -2.940 kg, 95% CI: -3.853, -2.026), Mono-n-butyl phthalate (β: -2.100 kg, 95% CI: -3.474, -0.726), Mono-isobutyl phthalate (β: -2.982 kg, 95% CI: -4.331, -1.633), and Mono-ethyl phthalate (β: -1.709 kg, 95% CI: -2.368, -1.050). In subgroup analyses, the associations remained largely unchanged when the samples were stratified by gender and age; However they became ambiguous among underweight subjects when the samples were stratified by BMI status. Overall, exposure to phthalates was inversely associated with grip strength among US adults, regardless of their genders and ages. The suggestive potential BMI status-specific effects of phthalates on grip strength were observed.

Cadmium exposure is associated with reduced grip strength in US adults

BACKGROUND

Muscle strength is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality in the general population. Recent studies have shown an association between environmental pollution and declined grip strength. No previous research has evaluated the specific association between cadmium exposure, a well-known risk factor of several chronic diseases, and muscle strength.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study among 4,197 individuals aged ≥40 years, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014, provided data on grip strength, and had either blood or urine cadmium determinations. Grip strength was measured using a Takei digital handgrip dynamometer, and combined grip strength was calculated as the sum of the largest reading from each hand.

RESULTS

Median (interquartile range) concentrations of blood (BCd) and creatinine-corrected urine cadmium (Cr-UCd) were 0.32 μg/L (0.20-4.56) and 0.27 μg/g (0.15-0.46), respectively. After adjusting for sociodemographic, anthropometric, health-related behavioral, and clinical risk factors, and serum creatine phosphokinase concentrations, the highest (vs lowest) quartile of BCd was associated with a reduction in combined grip strength of 1.93 kg (95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.51, -0.34), p-trend <0.001. The corresponding values comparing Cr-UCd quartiles 4 vs 1 were -3.24 kg (95% CI: -5.68, -0.79), p-trend <0.001. These results were consistent across socio-demographic and clinical subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

In the US adult population, higher cadmium exposure was associated with decreased grip strength. These results may have important public health implications given the widespread cadmium exposure.

Grip Strength: An Indispensable Biomarker For Older Adults

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.

Associations between grip strength and generalized anxiety disorder in older adults: Results from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing

BACKGROUND

Associations between grip strength and mental health disorders have been established; however, associations between grip strength and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) remain unstudied. Therefore, this study investigates associations between grip strength and prevalent and incident GAD.

METHODS

A prospective cohort design was utilized. At baseline, participants aged ≥50 years (N = 3,952) completed a hand grip strength assessment and abbreviated Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and were divided into sex-specific tertiles based on strength. A score of ≥23 on the PSWQ defined caseness of GAD. At two-year follow-up, GAD was assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Short Form.

RESULTS

Prevalence and incidence of GAD were 18.2% (N = 718) and 0.9% (N = 29), respectively. Adjusting for age, sex, waist circumference, social class, smoking status, and physical activity, a one-standard-deviation (1-SD) increase in strength was associated (OR, 95%CI) with 12.1% (OR = 0.88, 0.80-0.96; p < 0.01) lower odds of prevalent GAD, and middle and high strength tertiles were associated with 27.3% (OR = 0.73, 0.59-0.89; p < 0.01) and 23.1% (OR = 0.77, 0.62-0.95; p < 0.05) lower odds, respectively. A 1-SD increase in strength was non-significantly associated with 24.2% (OR = 0.76, 0.50-1.14) lower odds of incident GAD, and middle and high strength tertiles were non-significantly associated with 31.4% (OR = 0.69, 0.30-1.58) and 66.5% (OR = 0.34, 0.11-1.00) lower odds, respectively (all p > 0.05). There was no significant interaction between strength tertiles and sex.

LIMITATIONS

The observational nature of the study limits inferring causality.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased hand grip strength may be associated with lower odds of developing GAD in older adults. Larger investigations of prospective associations are needed.