Li Sixian, a doctor at Churi Clinic, pointed out that although some studies have found that grip strength is related to the risk of death, there are currently no studies that have confirmed that practicing grip strength alone can reduce the risk of death. He reminded that practicing correct exercise is the key; situational photos. (Picture taken from freepik)
[Health Channel/Comprehensive Report] Grip strength is often regarded as an important indicator for observing aging and health conditions, but does stronger grip strength really lead to longer life? Li Sixian, a physician at Churi Clinic, pointed out that although some studies have found that grip strength is related to the risk of death, there are currently no studies that have confirmed that practicing grip strength alone can reduce the risk of death. What is really supported by evidence is regular whole-body resistance training, and improvement in grip strength is only an incidental result.
Li Sixian posted on the Facebook fan page "Dr. Sisi, your good friend in health" that for every 5 kilogram reduction in grip strength, the risk of death increases, which is almost a consensus in the aging indicator community. But "the stronger your grip, the longer you will live." In fact, there is a cause and effect trap: does a strong grip protect the body and lead to a longer life, or does it mean that people with good health have stronger grips to begin with?
Study: Weak grip strength increases risk of death
Li Sixian said that a generational study covering 28 countries found that among the elderly with grip strength in the bottom third, the risk of death for men was 2.4 times that of the upper third, and for women it was 2.6 times. The association persisted after adjusting for various variables. However, stable correlation does not mean stable causation. For example, grip strength of patients with Parkinson's disease and dementia has declined several years before they are diagnosed. Grip strength may be a precursor to the disease rather than the cause.
Grip strength linked to fracture risk
In addition, he pointed out that a Mendelian randomization study published in "Nature Communications" in 2017 used genes as a tool and after excluding reverse causation, it was found that there was no causal relationship between handgrip strength predicted by genes and all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease, and myocardial infarction. The only causal relationship was the risk of fractures.
Overall skeletal muscle mass may be key to longevity
Li Sixian further mentioned that the Mendelian randomization study in the "International Journal of Obesity" in 2025 changed the perspective and put limb skeletal muscle mass and grip strength into the model together. It was found that both have a positive causal relationship with life span in men, but not in women. This shows that the "overall skeletal muscle mass" represented by grip strength may be the key, and there are gender differences.
Li Sixian emphasized that grip strength reflects not only muscle mass, but also neuromuscular coordination efficiency and inflammation, which is called Dynapenia. There is currently no research confirming that practicing grip strength alone can reduce the risk of death. What is truly empirically supported is regular whole-body resistance training, and improved grip strength is only an incidental result. Therefore, when the grip strength is measured to be low, what you should really ask is: "Are the muscles in the whole body sufficient and active enough?"
