Senior researcher Dr Marc Sim explained that grip strength, which can be easily measured using a handheld device known as a dynamometer, may be a marker of brain health due to the overlapping nature of cognitive and motor decline.
The researcher added: “Possibly due to a range of underlying similarities, grip strength may also present as a surrogate measure of cardiovascular disease, inflammation and frailty, which are known risk factors for dementia.”
The researchers hope the findings from the study could help health professionals identify dementia risk in patients earlier.
Dr Sim said: “Both grip strength and TUG tests aren’t commonly performed in clinical practice, but both are inexpensive and simple screening tools.
