Purpose Hand grip strength (HGS) is a widely used indicator of overall muscle strength and general health. We computed a polygenic risk score (PRS) for HGS, and examined, whether it predicted muscle strength, functional capacity and disability outcomes.

Methods Genome-wide association study summary statistics for HGS from the Pan-UK Biobank was utilized. PRSs were calculated in the Finnish Twin Study on Aging (N = 429 women, 63–76 years). Strength tests included HGS, isometric knee extension, and ankle plantar flexion strength. Functional capacity was examined with the Timed Up and Go, six-minute and 10-meter walk tests, and dual-task tests. Disabilities in the basic (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were investigated with questionnaires. The proportion of variation in outcomes accounted for by PRS HGS was examined using linear mixed models and extended logistic regression.

Results The measured HGS increased linearly over increasing PRS (β 4.8, SE 0.93, P < 0.001). PRS HGS independently accounted for 6.1% of the variation in the measured HGS (β 14.2, SE 3.1, P < 0.001), 5.4% of the variation in knee extension strength (β 19.6, SE 4.7, P < 0.001), 1.2% of the variation in ankle plantar flexion strength (β 9.4, SE 4.2, P = 0.027), and 0.1%–1.5% of the variation in functional capacity tests (P range 0.016–0.133). Further, participants with higher PRS HGS were less likely to have ADL/IADL disabilities (OR range 0.74–076).

Conclusions Older women with genetic risk for low muscle strength were significantly weaker than those with genetic susceptibility for high muscle strength. PRS HGS was also systematically associated with overall muscle strength and proximal and distal functional outcomes that require muscle strength.