{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,13]],"date-time":"2026-04-13T22:30:57Z","timestamp":1776119457345,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,13]],"date-time":"2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1741824000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"FCT\u2014Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["UIDB\/04585\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/04585\/2020"]}]},{"name":"FCT\u2014Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["001"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["001"]}]},{"name":"Federal University of Alfenas","award":["UIDB\/04585\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/04585\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Federal University of Alfenas","award":["001"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["001"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Geriatrics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: This study investigates the relationship between bite force and grip strength as indicators of frailty in older adults. Frailty syndrome, characterized by increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes, poses significant challenges in geriatric care. Objectives: This research builds on previous findings linking oral health to frailty risk, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Methods: A total of 59 older participants, aged 60 years and older, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study conducted at the Egas Moniz School of Health and Science. The participants underwent assessments of bite force using an electric dynamometer and grip strength using a specialized device. Body composition was also measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Results: Statistical analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between bite force and grip strength, even after adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI). Age was significantly correlated with bite and grip force (p &lt; 0.05), while BMI was correlated only with handgrip force but not with bite force (coefficient = \u22120.047, p = 0.737). Notably, bite force was found to be independent of BMI, unlike grip strength, which is generally influenced by body composition. This independence highlights the potential of bite force as a reliable and distinct marker for frailty that is not confounded by BMI-related factors. This study highlights the importance of oral health in maintaining overall well-being in older adults. Reduced bite force may indicate an increased risk of frailty, which can lead to malnutrition and decreased quality of life. These findings suggest that integrating bite force measurements into clinical assessments may improve the assessment of frailty and inform interventions aimed at improving health outcomes in the older population. Conclusions: This research provides new insights into the association between bite force and grip strength, emphasizing the unique value of bite force as an independent marker of frailty. It advocates for further studies to explore its role in geriatric care strategies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/geriatrics10020040","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,13]],"date-time":"2025-03-13T04:18:32Z","timestamp":1741839512000},"page":"40","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Assessing Frailty in the Older: The Role of Bite Force as an Independent Indicator"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7536-9193","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luciano Maia Alves","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Neuromodulation and Pain Unit (NeuroPain), Egas Moniz School of Health and Science, 2825-511 Almada, Portugal"},{"name":"Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Centre (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health and Sciences, 2825-511 Almada, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8558-6754","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9","family":"Brito","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neuromodulation and Pain Unit (NeuroPain), Egas Moniz School of Health and Science, 2825-511 Almada, Portugal"},{"name":"Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Centre (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health and Sciences, 2825-511 Almada, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Josie Resende Torres","family":"da Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Neurosciences, Neuromodulation and Pain Studies (LANNED), Federal University of Alfenas, 37130-001 Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5523-5910","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marcelo Louren\u00e7o","family":"da Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Neurosciences, Neuromodulation and Pain Studies (LANNED), Federal University of Alfenas, 37130-001 Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil"}]},{"given":"Maia e Maia","family":"Fischel e Andrade","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Neurosciences, Neuromodulation and Pain Studies (LANNED), Federal University of Alfenas, 37130-001 Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0648-6593","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andr\u00e9","family":"J\u00fadice","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neuromodulation and Pain Unit (NeuroPain), Egas Moniz School of Health and Science, 2825-511 Almada, Portugal"},{"name":"Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Centre (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health and Sciences, 2825-511 Almada, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0167-4077","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 Jo\u00e3o","family":"Mendes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Centre (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health and Sciences, 2825-511 Almada, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2503-260X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vanessa","family":"Machado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Centre (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health and Sciences, 2825-511 Almada, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1019-8263","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jo\u00e3o Thiago","family":"Botelho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Centre (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health and Sciences, 2825-511 Almada, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4110-8299","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Simone Cec\u00edlio Hallak","family":"Regalo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dentistry of Ribeir\u00e3o Preto, University of Sao Paulo (FORP\/USP), 14040-904 Ribeir\u00e3o Preto, S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2024, October 08). 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