Hand and arm muscle function linked to thinking and memory in older adults
Official title: Examining Additional Attributes of Muscle Function for Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults
Funded at North Dakota State University · NIH-11104161 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for whether detailed hand and arm muscle measures (like how quickly you squeeze, side-to-side differences, and steadiness) can signal early thinking and memory problems in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Dakota State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fargo, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $421,230 |
| NIH project number | 2R15AG072348-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11104161 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are community-dwelling older adults, including those with normal cognition, mild memory or thinking complaints, or early-stage Alzheimer’s-related cognitive impairment, who can perform handgrip testing.
✕Less likely to help
People with advanced dementia, severe hand or arm injuries, or inability to follow simple instructions may not be able to complete the tests and are less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
You would have your handgrip tested with an electronic dynamometer and wear small motion sensors so researchers can measure not just maximal strength but also how fast you generate force, differences between hands, coordination, fatigue, and steadiness. The team will combine these muscle measures with brief thinking and memory tests to see which muscle features relate to cognitive problems. The tests are noninvasive, quick, and done during in-person clinic or research visits. The aim is to identify simple muscle-based warning signs that could guide personalized referrals or physical treatments to help preserve thinking abilities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help spot early signs of Alzheimer’s and related dementias sooner and guide personalized physical therapies to protect thinking and memory.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked low maximal handgrip strength to higher dementia risk, but using electronic dynamometry and accelerometers to capture multiple muscle function attributes is largely new and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
North Dakota State University
Fargo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcgrath, Ryan — North Dakota State University
- Study coordinator: Mcgrath, Ryan
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.