Stronger the Body, Sharper the Mind

How good is your handgrip? Try squeezing a lemon. If you can comfortably get a lot of juice, then you’re safe. A recent study has confirmed that your muscle strength (measured by your handgrip) indicates a healthy brain.

The study led by Dr Joseph Firth from the Western Sydney University includes data from the UK Biobank between 2007 and 2010. These data include 475,397 individuals from the general population and 1,162 individuals with schizophrenia.

Stronger individuals obtained better results in all of the tests involving brain functioning such as visual memory, reaction time, reasoning, prospective memory, and number memory. The strength-brain relationship was consistent in people aged both under and over 55.

The study showed that grip strength and cognitive performance was also strongly correlated in participants with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. “We can see there is a clear connection between muscular strength and brain health,” Dr. Firth says, “Novel interventions, such as weight training, could be particularly beneficial for people with mental health conditions,” Dr. Firth said.