A new study has found a surprising connection between how strong your hands are and your chances of developing age-related macular degeneration, or AMD.
AMD is a serious eye condition that mostly affects older people and is a leading cause of vision loss in people over 50.
It damages a part of the eye called the macula, which is responsible for sharp, central vision. People with AMD often find it hard to read, recognize faces, or see fine details.
The study was done by researchers at Shanghai General Hospital and looked at data from the UK Biobank, a large health database in the United Kingdom. The goal was to see whether handgrip strength—the force you can apply with your hands—was related to the chances of developing AMD later in life.
The researchers studied over 380,000 people between the ages of 50 and 69 who did not have AMD when the study began. These people were followed for many years, and researchers kept track of who later developed the disease. In total, nearly 8,000 people were diagnosed with AMD during the follow-up period.
The results showed that people with weaker handgrip strength had a higher chance of developing AMD. Specifically, those with the weakest grip were 25% more likely to develop the condition compared to those with the strongest grip.
The researchers also found that for every 5 kilograms decrease in grip strength, the risk of AMD went up by about 6%. These patterns were seen across all age groups, but the link was not the same for men and women.
The study also looked into why this might happen. They found that certain markers in the blood, related to inflammation and red blood cells, played a role in this connection.
In fact, about 37.5% of the link between weaker grip strength and AMD risk could be explained by these biological factors. This suggests that handgrip strength could reflect underlying health issues that also affect eye health.
One reason this finding is important is that measuring handgrip strength is simple, quick, and low-cost. It doesn’t require expensive equipment or lab tests.
The researchers suggest that if future studies confirm this link, handgrip strength tests could be used in everyday clinics or community centers—especially in places where access to advanced medical tests is limited. This could help identify people at higher risk for AMD and allow for early steps to protect their vision.
In reviewing the study findings, it’s clear that grip strength could serve as a useful health indicator beyond just measuring physical fitness. It may give clues about overall aging, inflammation levels, and even future vision problems.
While more research is needed to confirm the results and understand the reasons behind them, this study opens the door to using a simple handgrip test as part of routine health checks, especially for older adults.
By understanding the link between physical strength and vision, people may be able to take earlier steps to manage their health and protect their eyesight as they age.
If you care about muscle, please read studies about factors that can cause muscle weakness in older people, and scientists find a way to reverse high blood sugar and muscle loss.
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The study is published in Aging Clinical and Experimental Research.
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