| Title: | Association between low handgrip strength and the increased risk of age-related macular degeneration: results from UK biobank cohort study |
| Journal: | Aging Clinical and Experimental Research |
| Published: | 5 Dec 2025 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41348378/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-025-03208-z |
Publication 16742
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Abstract
ObjectivesTo determine whether handgrip strength is associated with the incidence of age-related macular degeneration.MethodsA prospective cohort study of over 500 thousand UK Biobank participants aged 40-69 years. Individuals ≥ 50 years and without age-related macular degeneration at baseline were included. Exposure was the handgrip strength measured by dynamometer. Primary outcome was the incidence of age-related macular degeneration during 13 years of follow-up. Cox proportional-hazard models were fitted to estimate the risk effect for handgrip strength on age-related macular degeneration, and stratified for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Mediation models were regressed to explore underlying mechanisms driven by inflammatory and erythrocyte-related biomarkers.Results382174 eligible participants in the UK Biobank were included. After 4680431 person-year, 7987 individuals (2.09%) developed age-related macular degeneration. Individuals in the lowest quintile of handgrip strength had higher risk of age-related macular degeneration incidence (Hazard Ratio, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.16-1.35) compared with those in the highest quintile. Per 5 kg decrement in handgrip strength was associated with increased risk of age-related macular degeneration incidence (Hazard Ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04-1.08) with similar trend among all subgroups except for sex. Specific inflammatory and erythrocyte-related biomarkers partially (37.5%) mediated the incidence of age-related macular degeneration as substantial biological mechanisms following handgrip strength decrease.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that handgrip strength is associated with the incidence of age-related macular degeneration under the mediation of systemic proinflammatory factors. The current study holds an outlook for improved visual health over the evaluation and intervention of muscle strength in old-age population.</p>
9 Authors
- Shuoyang Wang
- Yu Hong
- Yanlin Qu
- Kairong Zheng
- Huihuan Luo
- Renjie Chen
- Huixun Jia
- Xinxin Liu
- Xiaodong Sun
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