Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2020;73(4):1265-1278.
doi: 10.3233/JAD-190856.

A Narrative Review of Handgrip Strength and Cognitive Functioning: Bringing a New Characteristic to Muscle Memory

Keith A Shaughnessy  1 , Kyle J Hackney  1 , Brian C Clark  2   3   4 , William J Kraemer  5 , Donna J Terbizan  1 , Ryan R Bailey  6 , Ryan McGrath  1
Affiliations
Review

A Narrative Review of Handgrip Strength and Cognitive Functioning: Bringing a New Characteristic to Muscle Memory

Keith A Shaughnessy et al. J Alzheimers Dis. 2020.

Abstract

Background: Measures of handgrip strength have not only emerged as a clinically viable screening tool for determining risk for morbidity, functional disability, and early mortality, but also for helping to identify cognitive deficits. However, the phenomena that links low handgrip strength with cognitive decline remains unclear. The role of the muscular and neural systems, and their adaptations to muscle strengthening activities over the life course, may provide important information for how age-related changes to muscle mass, strength, and neural capacity influence cognition. Moreover, disentangling how handgrip strength and cognitive function are associated may help to inform healthcare providers working with aging adults and guide targeted interventions aiming to preserve muscle and cognitive functioning.

Objective: To 1) highlight and summarize evidence examining the associations of handgrip strength and cognitive functioning, and 2) provide directions for future research in this area.

Methods: Articles from the PubMed database were searched from November 2018-May 2019. The search term algorithm, inclusion and exclusion criteria were pre-specified by investigators.

Results: Several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have revealed that measures of handgrip strength were associated with cognitive declines regardless of age demographics and the presence of comorbidities.

Conclusion: Handgrip strength can be used in clinical and epidemiological settings for helping to determine the onset and progression of cognitive impairment. Future research should continue to examine how handgrip strength and cognitive function are linked.

Keywords: Aging; Alzheimer’s disease; cognition; dementia; muscle weakness; sarcopenia.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

In the past 5-years, BCC has received research funding from the NIH, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., RTI Health Solutions, Biophytis, and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations. BCC has also received consulting fees from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Abbott Laboratories, and the Gerson Lehrman Group. Additionally, BCC is co-founder with equity, and serves as the Chief of Aging Research, of AEIOU Scientific, LLC. WJK was a paid consultant for handgrip strength in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. KAS, KJH, DJT, RRB, and RPM report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A theoretical model for improving individual components for the bidirectional association of muscle strength and cognition. A=placing credence in muscle strengthening activities alone, B=placing credence in cognitive functioning activities alone.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Keller K, Engelhardt M (2013) Strength and muscle mass loss with aging process. Age and strength loss. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 3, 346–50. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Landi F, Calvani R, Tosato M, Martone AM, Fusco D, Sisto A, Ortolani E, Savera G, Salini S, Marzetti E (2017) Age-related variations of muscle mass, strength, and physical performance in community-dwellers: Results from the Milan EXPO Survey. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 18, 88. e17–88. e24. - PubMed
    1. Clark BC, Manini TM (2008) Sarcopenia =/= dynapenia. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 63, 829–34. - PubMed
    1. Clark BC, Manini TM (2010) Functional consequences of sarcopenia and dynapenia in the elderly. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 13, 271–6. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Hunter GR, Singh H, Carter SJ, Bryan DR, Fisher GJ (2019) Sarcopenia and Its Implications for Metabolic Health. J Obes. 8031705. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms