Association between low handgrip strength and the increased risk of age-related macular degeneration - Research findings from a UK Biobank cohort study

Sep 30, 2026

Objectives address whether handgrip strength relates to the incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A prospective cohort study included over 500,000 UK Biobank participants aged 40–69 years, selecting those ≥50 years without AMD at baseline. Handgrip strength was measured with a dynamometer; AMD incidence over 13 years was analyzed using Cox proportional-hazard models and mediation models to test inflammatory and erythrocyte-related biomarkers. Lowest-quintile handgrip showed higher AMD risk (HR 1.25). Inflammation- and erythrocyte-related biomarkers partially mediated the association (37.5%), suggesting systemic proinflammatory factors.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Abstract

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Methods

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research (2026) 38:16 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-025-03208-z](https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-025-03208-z) RESEARCH Association between low handgrip strength and the increased risk of age-related macular degeneration: results from UK biobank cohort study Shuoyang Wang1,2,3 · Yu Hong1,2,3 · Yanlin Qu1,2,3 · Kairong Zheng1,2,3 · Huihuan Luo4 · Renjie Chen4 · Huixun Jia1,2,3,4 · Xinxin Liu1,2,3 · Xiaodong Sun1,2,3 Received: 7 December 2024 / Revised: 5 August 2025 / Accepted: 9 September 2025 © The Author(s) 2025 Abstract Objectives To determine whether handgrip strength is associated with the incidence of age-related macular degeneration. Methods A 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. Results 382174 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 agerelated 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. Conclusions Our 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. Keywords Age-related macular degeneration · Handgrip strength · Prospective cohort study · Risk factor · Biomarker · UK biobank Shuoyang Wang and Yu Hong contributed equally as co-first authors. 􀀍 Xinxin Liu [htuliuxinxin@163.com](htuliuxinxin@163.com) 􀀍 Xiaodong Sun[xdsun@sjtu.edu.cn](xdsun@sjtu.edu.cn) 1 Present address: Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 100 Haining Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai 200080, China 2 Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, China 3 National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, China 4 School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Introduction Due to a global trend of increased longevity, the challenge of maintaining eye health among the expanding aging population has become more critical. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a predominant eye disease affecting the high-acuity central vision of seniors [1], which not only impairs the independence and quality of life, but also imposes significant economic and socio-psychological burdens on affected individuals [2, 3] . Hence, AMD is considered a major threat to the visual health of the elderly, which highlights the necessity for enhanced understanding and prediction of this common disease. 1 3 Handgrip strength (HGS) is tightly related to overall health during midlife and late adulthood [4] . Evidence from previous studies underscored HGS as a potent indicator for ri

FAQs

What was the study’s primary objective?

To determine whether handgrip strength is associated with the incidence of age-related macular degeneration.

How was handgrip strength measured and what was the outcome?

Handgrip strength was measured using a dynamometer, and the primary outcome was incident age-related macular degeneration during 13 years of follow-up.

What did the results show about low handgrip strength and AMD risk?

Participants in the lowest handgrip quintile had higher AMD incidence risk (hazard ratio 1.25) and each 5 kg decrease in handgrip was associated with increased risk (hazard ratio 1.06).

Which biological pathway was explored to explain the association?

Mediation models evaluated inflammatory and erythrocyte-related biomarkers, showing partial mediation of the AMD incidence (37.5%) and implicating systemic proinflammatory factors.

Sep 30, 2026

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