Khaberni - Alzheimer's disease causes widespread concern among many, as the idea of losing memory or failing to recognize family members is considered one of the most feared concerns related to aging. However, orthopedic specialist Ines Moreno Sanchez points to an early sign that may seem simple but carries important implications for brain health.
Moreno Sanchez explained that the strength of a handshake might indicate the risk of developing dementia in the future. She says that people with a weaker hand grip have a 54% higher chance of developing dementia within 10 years.
The specialist explains that the relationship between muscles and the brain is stronger than many think. Every physical activity that a person does prompts the muscles to secrete chemicals known as "myokines," which are compounds that help protect nerve cells and stimulate memory.
She adds that loss of muscle strength is not only reflected in movement but may also be an early indicator of declining cognitive abilities. Thus, maintaining muscles is not only linked to appearance or fitness, but also to brain health.
Sanchez advises focusing on regular physical activities like weightlifting, squat exercises, or even continual walking, because these activities enhance the chemical communication between muscles and the brain and support the production of protective substances for nerve cells.
She also points out that muscle mass gradually declines with age, explaining: "Starting at the age of 35, a person loses about 1% of their muscle mass annually, and by the age of 80, they may have lost about half of it."
She emphasizes that inactivity is not a neutral state, but rather a factor that weakens this vital communication between the body and the brain. Every movement or exercise, no matter how simple, sends – according to her description – an "urgent chemical message" to the brain that supports and protects its functions.
The specialist concludes that protecting memory may start from an unexpected place: muscle strength and even from the way we shake hands with others.
