Athénaïs’s research could help with diagnosis

Athénaïs Selve, a second-year student from Coláiste Chiaráin in Athlone, presented an insightful project on grip strength as a biomarker for health, investigating how gender and age impact grip strength.

“I conducted experiments with my family and classmates to understand these effects,” she said.

“I found that boys, on average, are significantly stronger than girls. Additionally, grip strength peaks around the age of 25.”

Athénaïs also explored the wider implications of grip strength on overall health.

Athénais Selve took third place in the Junior individual section of the Health and Wellbeing category with her project.

Citing a 2015 study involving 140,000 adults, she highlighted how weak grip strength correlates with a higher incidence of heart disease, cardiovascular issues, strokes, and even mortality.

Reassuringly, however, she says that by doing exercises such as squeezing rubber balls, it is possible to improve grip strength.

Her findings led her to advocate for the integration of grip strength measurement into routine medical checkups.

“Grip strength testing is affordable and could significantly enhance global health by identifying potential risks early,” she says.

Athénaïs’s passion for her project is clear, and looking to the future, she is hoping to make a career in healthcare.