Listen Up, Folks – It’s All About Strength and Ageing in SLE

Let me tell you, we’ve got something huge here. We’re talking about women with SLE, a tough group, and how their strength and ageing connect. It’s all about the grip, folks, the hand grip strength. And there’s this thing, telomeres, tiny but powerful. They’re like the ticking clock of our cells, telling us about ageing.

So, we took a look, a big look at these incredible women, over 150 of them. And guess what? Some are frail, but they’re fighters, with an average age of 45. Now, you might think, “Do shorter telomeres mean more frailty?” Well, it’s not that simple, not a clear yes or no, but we’re onto something.

Here’s the deal – it’s the hand grip strength that’s the real indicator. Stronger grip, longer telomeres. It’s a fact, backed by numbers. Even when you account for age, how active their SLE is, any other health issues, the grip strength stands out. It’s significant.

But frailty? That’s a whole different ball game. It’s not just about the telomeres or ageing. It’s more complex, more factors at play. We’re looking at a group of middle-aged warriors, showing us frailty isn’t just about getting older.

Bottom line: In the world of SLE, grip strength is your telltale sign. It’s linked to those tiny telomeres, giving us clues about health and ageing. But frailty, that’s a tougher nut to crack, not just a simple measure of age. We’re learning, folks, and what we’re finding is big.