A1 Journal article (refereed)
A Polygenic Risk Score for Hand Grip Strength Predicts Muscle Strength and Proximal and Distal Functional Outcomes among Older Women (2022)

Herranen, P., Palviainen, T., Rantanen, T., Tiainen, K., Viljanen, A., Kaprio, J., & Sillanpää, E. (2022). A Polygenic Risk Score for Hand Grip Strength Predicts Muscle Strength and Proximal and Distal Functional Outcomes among Older Women. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 54(11), 1889-1896. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000002981

JYU authors or editors

Herranen, Päivi
Rantanen, Taina
Viljanen, Anne
Sillanpää, Elina

Publication details

All authors or editors: Herranen, Päivi; Palviainen, Teemu; Rantanen, Taina; Tiainen, Kristina; Viljanen, Anne; Kaprio, Jaakko; Sillanpää, Elina

Journal or series: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

ISSN: 0195-9131

eISSN: 1530-0315

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 30/06/2022

Volume: 54

Issue number: 11

Pages range: 1889-1896

Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000002981

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/82505

Abstract

Purpose
Hand grip strength (HGS) is a widely used indicator of overall muscle strength and general health. We computed a polygenic risk score (PRS) for HGS, and examined, whether it predicted muscle strength, functional capacity and disability outcomes.

Methods
Genome-wide association study summary statistics for HGS from the Pan-UK Biobank was utilized. PRSs were calculated in the Finnish Twin Study on Aging (N = 429 women, 63–76 years). Strength tests included HGS, isometric knee extension, and ankle plantar flexion strength. Functional capacity was examined with the Timed Up and Go, six-minute and 10-meter walk tests, and dual-task tests. Disabilities in the basic (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were investigated with questionnaires. The proportion of variation in outcomes accounted for by PRS HGS was examined using linear mixed models and extended logistic regression.

Results
The measured HGS increased linearly over increasing PRS (β 4.8, SE 0.93, P < 0.001). PRS HGS independently accounted for 6.1% of the variation in the measured HGS (β 14.2, SE 3.1, P < 0.001), 5.4% of the variation in knee extension strength (β 19.6, SE 4.7, P < 0.001), 1.2% of the variation in ankle plantar flexion strength (β 9.4, SE 4.2, P = 0.027), and 0.1%–1.5% of the variation in functional capacity tests (P range 0.016–0.133). Further, participants with higher PRS HGS were less likely to have ADL/IADL disabilities (OR range 0.74–076).

Conclusions
Older women with genetic risk for low muscle strength were significantly weaker than those with genetic susceptibility for high muscle strength. PRS HGS was also systematically associated with overall muscle strength and proximal and distal functional outcomes that require muscle strength.

Keywords: women; ageing; muscle strength; press force; heredity; performance (capacity); functional capacity; risk factors