Muscle loss, weak grip and slow walking pace linked to higher stroke risk,suggests research

Muscle loss, a weaker grip and a slower walking pace were associated with a higher risk of stroke in adults, according to new research published today in Stroke, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.

In the study, people with low muscle strength had a 30% higher risk of any type of stroke; a 31% higher risk of an ischemic stroke; and a 41% higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Having lower grip strength was linked to a 7% higher chance of having a stroke. Slow walking pace was associated with a 64% increased risk of stroke compared to a brisk pace.

In clinical practice, we often see that patients with lower levels of physical function tend to have worse overall health outcomes. However, these physical function indicators are currently not routinely incorporated into stroke risk assessment,” said study author Lu-sha Tong, M.D., a neurologist at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, China. “

Researchers reviewed health data for more than 480,000 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank who had not had a previous stroke and found that lower measures of muscle strength, muscle loss and walking pace were associated with a higher risk of having a stroke.

“As people age, they often lose muscle strength and mass. This loss is associated with higher stroke risk by showing lower physical health, chronic inflammation and changes in metabolism. Weak muscles may be an early warning sign of a higher risk for stroke,” she said.

Tong also noted that the finding about walking pace showed a stronger, more consistent association with stroke risk than grip strength. “Walking pace may be a good sign of overall health.”

“Our findings suggest that quick, standard screenings for physical function, such as grip strength and walking pace, may help us identify adults with higher risk of stroke, potentially supporting earlier prevention strategies,” she said.

According to the American Heart Association’s Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2026 Update, stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, and a leading cause of long-term disability.

The analysis found:

• About 4.7% of study participants were likely to have experienced muscle loss, while 0.4% had confirmed muscle loss.
• People with probable muscle loss (low muscle strength) had a 30% higher risk of any type of stroke; a 31% higher risk of an ischemic stroke; and a 41% higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
• Adults who had documented muscle loss were older (average age of 60.8 vs. 56.3 years, respectively), included fewer men (31.6% vs. 45.8%, respectively), had lower body mass index (average BMI of 21.0 vs. 27.4, respectively) and had lower-than-college education levels compared to peers without muscle loss.
• Among 11,814 participants who had a stroke, those with muscle loss had higher mortality rates, with increases of about 25% in probable cases and nearly 46% in confirmed cases compared with those without muscle loss.
• Having lower grip strength was linked to a 7% higher chance of having a stroke.
• Slow walking pace was associated with a 64% increased risk of stroke compared to a brisk pace.
• A method of analysis using genetic variants to estimate the potential causal effect of genetic exposure, known as Mendelian randomization, indicated that a faster walking pace was associated with a lower risk of stroke.

Reference:

Lu-sha Tong, Sarcopenia, Grip Strength, Walking Pace, and New-Onset Stroke Risk: A UK Biobank Study, Stroke, DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.125.052311