New Study Shows People With Strong Muscles Live Longer

Better renew that gym membership.

strength
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New research from the University of Michigan reports that hitting the gym and getting strong is good for more than just looking your best, it might in fact help you live longer. The study compared people who have a grip strength stronger than the baseline measurement to those who have lower levels of muscle strength. They found that those with lower levels of muscle strength are around 50 percent more likely to die prematurely, according to Maxim. 

“Maintaining muscle strength throughout life — and especially in later life — is extremely important for longevity and aging independently,” lead researcher Kate Duchowny told Michigan News.

They used hand grip strength as an indicator of health because it is simple to assess and is a more accurate benchmark of longevity compared to other common measurements like muscle mass. If the muscles in your hand are weak, it probably means other muscles are weak too, like your heart.

Researchers analyzed data from 8,326 participants aged 65 and older.

“Having hand grip strength be an integral part of routine care would allow for earlier interventions, which could lead to increased longevity and independence for individuals,” Duchowny said, accoridng to Maxim. “We believe our cut-points more accurately reflect the changing population trends of older Americans and that muscle weakness is a serious public health concern.”

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