Handgrip weakness is associated with motor cortex atrophy in rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study with a hand exercise intervention

Abstract Background Handgrip strength (HGS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is commonly attributed to joint pathology, but may also reflect extra-articular manifestations, including atrophy of motor-related brain regions. We investigated HGS as a marker of peripheral joint status, systemic immune regulation, and central motor integrity. Methods Maximal HGS was assessed using a dynamometer. Joint pathology was evaluated using radiographic and clinical measures, and upper limb disability using questionnaire. Brain volumes were quantified using MRI and MAPER software. Transcriptome sequencing was performed on circulating CD4⁺ and CD14⁺ cells. In a six-month, single-arm pilot trial, a subgroup of patients performed daily hand exercises. Associations and longitudinal changes were analysed using linear mixed-effects models accounting for repeated measurements across hands and timepoints, with variable selection performed using LASSO regression. Results A total of 59 women with established RA were included in the cross-sectional analysis (median age 64 years range 23–76, DAS28 2.46 1.1–5.8, disease duration 11 years 0–45). Lower HGS was associated with greater disability. HGS was also independently associated with premotor and supplementary motor cortex (PMA/SMA) volume after adjustment for age, hand dominance, and joint pathology. Among joint pathology measures, tender joint count showed a significant negative association with HGS. Transcriptome analyses of CD4⁺ and CD14⁺ cells indicated that lower HGS was associated with reduced immune responsiveness and altered cytokine signalling pathways. In a six-month pilot hand exercise trial ( n = 12; median age 54 years 28–68, DAS28 2.87 1.2–3.6, disease duration 14 years 1–40), HGS increased at 3 months, with a non-significant trend at 6 months. Baseline PMA/SMA volume showed a non-significant trend towards predicting HGS improvement. Longitudinal analyses revealed region-specific brain changes, with a decrease in PMA/SMA volume and an increase in insular volume over time. Conclusions Handgrip weakness in RA may reflect both joint pathology and motor cortex atrophy in the PMA/SMA. Hand exercise improved HGS and induced certain structural changes in the brain, though effects on motor regions remain uncertain and warrant further study. Trial registration Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04378621. Registration date: May 5, 2020.