By Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D. Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker Feb 20 2026 A large, diverse cohort study shows that muscle strength, especially grip strength, may signal survival odds in older women, regardless of how much they move, how long they sit, or their measured fitness level. Study: Muscular Strength and Mortality in Women Aged 63 to 99 Years. Image credit: Chay_Tee/Shutterstock.com A recent study in JAMA Network Open examined whether muscular strength is associated with mortality in older