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A firm handshake could be a sign of a longer life expectancy, according to
British researchers.
Scientists at the Medical Research Council found that elderly people who
could still give a firm handshake and walk at a brisk pace were likely to
outlive their slower peers.
They found simple measures of physical capability like shaking hands,
walking, getting up from a chair and balancing on one leg were related to life
span, even after accounting for age, sex and body size. The study is the first
to provide a comprehensive view of the existing research by pooling data from 33
studies.
"These measures have been used in population-based research for quite a
long time," said Rachel Cooper of the Medical Research Council's Unit for
Lifelong Health and Aging. "They may be useful indicators for subsequent
health."
Cooper, whose study appears in the British Medical Journal, said more
studies are needed to clarify whether the measures would be helpful to doctors
as a screening tool. "I wouldn't suggest that we roll them out into clinical
practice tomorrow, but it is possible that they could be used in the future,"
she told Reuters Health.
The researchers examined 33 studies involving tens of thousands of people,
most of whom were aged over 60 but living in the community rather than in
hospital or care homes.
Of 14 studies dealing with grip strength, the researchers found that those
with the strongest hand grasps tended to live longer than those with limp
grips.
The death rate over the period of the studies for people with weak
handshakes was 67 percent higher than for people with a firm grip.
The slowest walkers were nearly three times more likely to die during the
study period than swifter walkers.
The people who were slowest to get up from a chair had about double the
mortality rate compared to the quick risers.
"Those people in the general population who have higher physical capability
levels are likely to live longer," Cooper said.
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发表于 2016-7-10 17:40:58