The ability to grip an object with force has been shown to be an important predictor of longevity.  So much so, that grip strength has been proposed as a biomarker.  A biomarker is an indicator of medical status.  The following is an excerpt from an article by Richard Bohannon titled Grip Strength: An Indispensable Biomarker for Older Adults, "Based on the review it appears that there is adequate evidence to support the use of grip strength as an explanatory or predictive biomarker of specific outcomes such as generalized strength and