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Why grip strength matters

A pair of hands molding clay on a work surface with a jar of paintbrushes in the background.

Nov. 10, 2025—Has your grip strength—how strongly you can squeeze with your hand—changed over the years? It's worth noting. Recent research has found that monitoring your grip strength may shed light on your mental health, how well you're aging and even your risk for certain diseases.

How is grip strength measured?

Measuring grip strength is quick and simple, says the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). But it does require a special piece of squeezable equipment called a dynamometer. Your healthcare provider will ask you to squeeze the device as hard as you can, taking a turn with each hand. To get a good measurement, the APTA recommends repeating the test three times. Your provider can track your average score (for each hand) to see how it changes over time.

They can also compare your grip strength to others of your age, sex, body mass index or other factors. That can reveal a surprising amount about your overall health.

Hand strength could offer insights into brain health

Better grip strength has been linked to better brain function and mental health, report the American Psychiatric Association and other experts. People with weaker grip strength are more likely to have:

  • Anxiety.
  • Cognitive problems.
  • Dementia.
  • Depression.

Researchers think this may be because grip strength reflects your overall muscle health, which plays a role in keeping your brain functioning well as you age. That overall health can be affected by factors like inflammation, being less active or general weakness. These things can all affect your mood and mind.

Your grip can help reveal your risk for diabetes

A 2024 meta-analysis in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition found that people with weaker grip strength have higher rates of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and other problems related to obesity.

Why? Again, it may come down to overall muscle health. And, researchers noted, muscles play a big role in how your body uses insulin. As muscle strength declines with age, the body becomes less efficient at managing blood sugar, increasing the risk for issues with blood sugar over time.

Grip strength could reveal how well you're aging

It's a simple but useful measure of your body's overall vitality. Studies show that people with stronger grip strength are less likely to be hospitalized and may even live longer. According to the APTA, grip strength can be a handy way of tracking a variety of aging-related factors, including:

  • Overall strength.
  • Bone density.
  • Arm and hand functions.
  • Sleep problems.
  • Quality of life.

A 2021 meta-analysis in the Journal of Sport and Health Science found that a stronger grip was linked to a lower rate of death or disability from cardiovascular disease. And a 2023 study in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle found that men and women with low grip strength and whose grip weakened over time also had changes in biomarkers linked to aging.

What does it mean for you?

Keeping your muscles strong as you age does more than make everyday tasks easier. It's a sign of physical and mental health. And it's never too late to start strength-training.

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