
Grip-and-rise test links longevity to muscle strength in older women
A University at Buffalo study of about 5,000 women aged 60 and older finds that a two-step test—handgrip strength followed by five consecutive sit-to-stand lifts—predicts eight-year mortality risk. Every 15-pound increase in grip strength cut death risk by 12%, and women with the strongest grip had about a 33% lower mortality risk than those with the weakest. Faster sit-to-stand performance showed a 4% lower risk per six-second improvement. The findings underscore muscular strength as a biomarker of aging and suggest that maintaining both aerobic and resistance training can support longevity.






