Study: Handgrip Strength an Effective Way to Evaluate Risk of Death

A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that handgrip strength is an effective predictor for all-cause mortality in the world's oldest population, seniors who are 85 years and older.

In the study, a group of 555 seniors in the Netherlands were evaluated for handgrip strength at age 85 and again at age 89. Seniors who had low handgrip strength at both ages as well as greater measurable decline in handgrip strength over time were linked to higher rates of all-cause mortality.

The study's authors concluded that handgrip strength could be helpful to caregivers in identifying which seniors are at the greatest risk of death. It could also potentially be used to increase survival rates by applying muscle-strengthening techniques to these seniors.