Health alert: New study examines muscular strength and Alzheimer's

Having stronger muscles correlates to a reduced Alzheimer’s risk, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago.

Patricia A. Boyle and her colleagues discovered that the greater a person’s muscle strength the less likely he or she was to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease over a four-year period. Previous studies have connected the strength of a person’s grip to the likelihood of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Weight and physical activity have also been shown to be important factors, but this was the first study to specifically target muscle strength.