Prognostic value of grip strength: findings from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study.

Researchers measured handgrip strength with a handheld device in 142,861 adults aged 35 to 70 across 17 countries. They followed the participants for about four years. People with weaker grip strength were more likely to die and had higher risks of heart attack and stroke. Every 5-kilogram decrease in grip strength was linked to about a 16% higher risk of death. The study found a warning signal, not proof that weak grip itself causes illness.

What this means for you: Grip strength may be a useful, simple sign of overall health, especially as people age. But this study does not show that buying a handgrip trainer or increasing grip strength will prevent disease.