Neurodegener Dis Manag. 2026 May 5:1-8. doi: 10.1080/17582024.2026.2667425. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To explore how grip strength is related to functional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients.
METHODS: In the phase 2 trial of TBN for treatment of ALS, 148 patients in full analysis set received TBN (600 mg or 1200 mg) or a placebo for 180 days. Outcome measurements included ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), 40-item ALS Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ-40), grip strength, and forced vital capacity (FVC). Spearman's rank correlation was used to examine associations between grip strength, ALSFRS-R and ALSAQ-40. A principal component analysis-ANCOVA model adjusted for sex was used to further explore the associations.
RESULTS: Grip strength was strongly correlated with ALSFRS-R fine motor function domain (rs = 0.740) and moderately correlated with ALSAQ-40 activities of daily living (ADL) domain (rs = -0.637) (p < 0.05). Weak correlations were observed between FVC and both ALSFRS-R total score (rs = 0.355) and respiratory domain (rs = 0.229) and ALSAQ-40 domains. Grip strength was a strong predictor of ALSFRS-R fine motor and ALSAQ-40 ADL domains.
CONCLUSION: Grip strength was associated with functional status and HRQoL, supporting its potential role as a meaningful clinical outcome measure in patients with ALS.
PMID:42084479 | DOI:10.1080/17582024.2026.2667425