Is weakness the new smoking? Muscle strength tied to biological age, study shows

Muscle weakness marked by grip strength is associated with accelerated biological age, a new study suggests. Results were found using “age acceleration clocks” based on DNA methylation, a process that provides a molecular biomarker and estimator of the pace of aging. Researchers say this suggests potential to adopt use of grip strength as a way to screen individuals for future risk of functional decline, chronic disease and early mortality.