"10-Second DIY Fitness Test Could Predict Your Longevity Compared to Peers"
A study from Brazil indicates that older adults who can balance on one leg for 10 seconds have a higher chance of outliving their peers. The inability to perform this balance test was linked to an 84% increased risk of death over seven years, potentially due to muscle loss and the associated risk of fatal falls. The study, which tracked 1,700 participants aged 50 to 70, found that those who failed the balance test had a higher mortality rate, with heart disease and cancer being the most common causes of death. Strength training and yoga are recommended to maintain muscle mass and improve balance, aligning with WHO's fitness guidelines. The research was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.