journal articles
ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE HANDGRIP STRENGTH AS INDICATORS OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: EVIDENCE FROM THE MEXICAN COGNITIVE AGING STUDY
Miguel Ángel Perez-Sousa, Alejandro Cuevas, Miguel Germán Borda, Mikel Izquierdo, Robinson Ramírez-Vélez
J Aging Res & Lifestyle 2026;15
AIM: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a simple, noninvasive measure that may help with the early detection and risk assessment of cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults. This study aimed to explore the relationship between both absolute and relative measures of HGS and cognitive impairment in a nationally representative sample of Mexican adults aged 55 and older.
METHODS: This secondary cross-sectional study included 1870 participants (58.4% women; mean age = 68.1 ± 8.7 years) from the Mexican Cognitive Aging Study (Mex-Cog). Data from individuals aged ≥ 55 years included socioeconomic, lifestyle, anthropometric, and biomarker information. HGS was assessed using a dynamometer in absolute values (kg) and relative indices (HGS/height, HGS/height², HGS/weight, and HGS/BMI). Quartiles (Q) were created, with Q4 representing the highest performance. Cognitive impairment was defined as an MMSE score of < 24 points. Associations were examined using sex-stratified binary logistic regression adjusted for age, education level, and population density.
RESULTS: Women in the lowest quartile of absolute handgrip strength had significantly higher odds of cognitive impairment than those in the highest quartile (odds ratio [OR] = 2.24, 95% CI 1.04–4.80, p = 0.039). In men, significant associations were found for the second quartile of HGS normalised by height and height². Overall, absolute HGS and HGS/height² showed the strongest and most consistent significant association with cognitive impairment.
CONCLUSIONS: Lower absolute and relative HGS values were strongly associated with a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment in Mexican adults. Due to its low cost, accessibility, and reproducibility, HGS may represent a practical biomarker for the early detection and tracking of cognitive decline, particularly in low-resource settings.
CITATION:
Miguel Ángel Perez-Sousa ; Alejandro Cuevas ; Miguel Germán Borda ; Mikel Izquierdo ; Robinson Ramírez-Vélez (2025): Absolute and relative handgrip strength as indicators of cognitive impairment: Evidence from the Mexican cognitive aging study. The Journal of Aging and Lifestyle (JARLife). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarlif.2025.100058