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Grip strength modifies the association between blood-based alzheimer's biomarkers and cognitive function
Bekena S, Singh RK, Zhu Y, Trani JF, Ances BM, Babulal GM.. GeroScience, 2026-04-11
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Blood-based biomarkers are increasingly used to characterize Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related pathology, yet substantial heterogeneity exists in how biomarker burden relates to cognitive performance. Grip strength, a marker of frailty and functional reserve, may modify this relationship. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 348 participants from the Aging Adult Brain Connectome (AABC) study.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Bekena, S., Singh, R. K., Zhu, Y., Trani, J. F., Ances, B. M., & Babulal, G. M. (2026). Grip strength modifies the association between blood-based alzheimer's biomarkers and cognitive function. GeroScience. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-026-02246-3
Vancouver
Bekena S, Singh RK, Zhu Y, Trani JF, Ances BM, Babulal GM. Grip strength modifies the association between blood-based alzheimer's biomarkers and cognitive function. GeroScience. 2026. doi:10.1007/s11357-026-02246-3. PMID: 41964835.
BibTeX
@article{bekena2026-41964835,
author = {Bekena, S. and Singh, R. K. and Zhu, Y. and Trani, J. F. and Ances, B. M. and Babulal, G. M.},
title = {{Grip strength modifies the association between blood-based alzheimer's biomarkers and cognitive function}},
journal = {GeroScience},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1007/s11357-026-02246-3},
pmid = {41964835},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-026-02246-3}
}
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Key findings
- Grip strength, a marker of frailty and functional reserve, may modify this relationship.
- We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 348 participants from the Aging Adult Brain Connectome (AABC) study.
- Global cognition was assessed using the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC).
- Plasma biomarkers included phosphorylated tau-217 (pTau 217 ), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and total tau (tTau).
Why it matters
In this cross-sectional analysis of 348 participants, grip strength modified the relationship between blood-based Alzheimer biomarkers and cognitive function. It suggests frailty and functional reserve may affect how biomarker burden relates to thinking abilities, but it does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Blood tests & biomarkers →
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants348
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (GeroScience) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | GeroScience: journal h-index 83 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 348 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Ganesh Muneshwar Babulal: h-index 31 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Washington University in St. Louis: institution h-index 1,962 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41964835) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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