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Researchers Uncover a Simple Question That Could Help Determine Your Risk of Death
Scitech Daily ^ | FEBRUARY 7, 2023 | By UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBA

Posted on 02/07/2023 12:26:27 PM PST by Red Badger

The researchers discovered that adults only comfortable with walking/cycling short distance had a higher risk of death and functional disability.

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have discovered a connection between the risk of functional disability or death in older adults and the distance they are willing to walk or cycle to reach common destinations (such as a friend’s house or a supermarket).

As they age, physical or cognitive decline can make it difficult for some older adults to navigate their community, affecting their quality of life and becoming a burden on society. However, a recent study by researchers at the University of Tsukuba demonstrates that a willingness to travel longer distances by walking or cycling may help reduce the risk of early functional disability and mortality.

A recent study published in Health and Place presents a model linking death and functional disability rates in older adults to the distances they are willing to travel on foot or bicycle for common community trips. The research found that older adults who were only comfortable with short distances – such as 500 meters or less for walking, or 1 kilometer or less for cycling – faced higher risks of functional disability and death.

“Forms of active travel, like walking and cycling, contribute to maintaining adequate levels of physical activity as we age, and because these forms of travel also facilitate other activities like social visits or grocery shopping, we reasoned that the distances older adults considered acceptable for traveling by these means could be a useful proxy,” explains lead author of the study Professor Okura Tomohiro.

To determine whether this proxy information could be linked to future disability or death, the research team surveyed a large sample of adults (residents of Kasama City, Ibaraki, Japan) aged 65 years or older in 2013 to obtain baseline data. The team also collected follow-up data over a period of almost 8 years. They then used these data to create several models, to explore the potential effects of physical characteristics like age and sex, baseline travel preferences, and geographic characteristics like terrain and population.

“For a meaningful model,” Professor Okura Tomohiro says, “it was necessary that we capture data, not only for a wide variety of characteristics—to account for differences inherent in an older adult population—but also over a sufficiently long time period—to allow natural life changes to evolve.”

The study’s findings could help researchers and policymakers better understand the impact of some of the challenges experienced by individuals as they age. This knowledge can be used to develop ways to better assist vulnerable older individuals or to design services to improve access to the community for older adults.

“Acceptable walking and cycling distances and functional disability and mortality in older Japanese adults: An 8-year follow-up study” by Kenji Tsunoda, Koki Nagata, Takashi Jindo, Yuya Fujii, Yuki Soma, Naruki Kitano and Tomohiro Okura, 17 December 2022, Health & Place.

DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102952

The study was funded by a JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists, a grant from the Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare, and a grant from the Japan Sport Association.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Health/Medicine; Society; Travel
KEYWORDS: fitness; health; physicalfitness; walkforhealth; walking
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To: SamAdams76

Most days, usually at least two miles.


21 posted on 02/07/2023 12:49:59 PM PST by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure.)
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To: Red Badger

“Researchers Uncover a Simple Question That Could Help Determine Your Risk of Death.”

Are you alive?


22 posted on 02/07/2023 12:50:48 PM PST by chuckb87
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To: Red Badger

I’ve lived out here for seven years now, and already one of my legs is shorter than the other from walking sideways along the hillside to get from Point A to Point B!

It’s like we’re mountain goats or something, LOL!


23 posted on 02/07/2023 12:51:43 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Red Badger

We walked 3.2 miles to go grocery shopping this morning, in light rain. And biked 12 miles Sunday.


24 posted on 02/07/2023 12:52:42 PM PST by The Truth Will Make You Free
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Then change your name to Eileen.....................😜


25 posted on 02/07/2023 12:53:44 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Red Badger

I thought everyone’s risk of death was 100%


26 posted on 02/07/2023 12:53:52 PM PST by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy - EVs a solution for which there is no problem)
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To: Red Badger
Yeah, let's encourage older folks to bicycle on roads littered with potholes because the government sends taxpayer money overseas or spends it on illegal aliens, the same illegal aliens driving on all over the same roads as well.

If they couldn't kill them in a nursing home like Andrew Cuomo did, or with the Jim Jones Jab like Pfizer and the Globalists did, send them into traffic to see if that could finish them off.

27 posted on 02/07/2023 12:54:04 PM PST by T.B. Yoits
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To: from occupied ga

Pert near!...................


28 posted on 02/07/2023 12:54:41 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Red Badger

We all have a 100% risk of death.

L


29 posted on 02/07/2023 12:54:50 PM PST by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: Red Badger

I bought an exercycle recently. If I can only figure out how to put the parts together right I am on my way to immortality, I guess.


30 posted on 02/07/2023 1:01:15 PM PST by wildbill (The older I get, the less the term 'life in prison" scares me)
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To: Red Badger

Q.1 - Are you breathing?

A.1 - Your risk of death is 100%.


31 posted on 02/07/2023 1:05:59 PM PST by Quality_Not_Quantity ("...for the sake of His name." Psalm 23:3)
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To: Red Badger

Another good test is how hard is it to stand up from lying on the floor.


32 posted on 02/07/2023 1:07:11 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (The worst thing about censorship is ████ █ ██████ ███████ ███ ██████ ██ ████████. FJB.)
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To: Red Badger

I skimmed the article. I know. So, they conducted a study that found that out of shape people are more likely to die? No freaking kidding.


33 posted on 02/07/2023 1:09:29 PM PST by tnlibertarian
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

and “Can you open your eyes?”.....................


34 posted on 02/07/2023 1:10:53 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: EvilCapitalist

That was mine too.


35 posted on 02/07/2023 1:11:03 PM PST by Revel
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I use to plant over 50 daffodils every fall. My knees are pretty shot now can hardly get up without something to grab onto.


36 posted on 02/07/2023 1:15:29 PM PST by mware
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
You call that a backyard? THIS is my backyard.

This-Is-Home

I live on the mountain side near the left side of the picture.

37 posted on 02/07/2023 1:15:46 PM PST by SkyDancer (Hold on tight to your dream)
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To: mware

I do an hour a day on my stationary bike. It is easy on knees, but excellent exercise.


38 posted on 02/07/2023 1:19:56 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (The worst thing about censorship is ████ █ ██████ ███████ ███ ██████ ██ ████████. FJB.)
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To: Red Badger; Constitution Day; Tijeras_Slim; Slings and Arrows; Darksheare; SunkenCiv; ...
I'M NOT DEAD YET
39 posted on 02/07/2023 1:23:04 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: martin_fierro

Get in the cart!.....................


40 posted on 02/07/2023 1:24:58 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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