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| Slow walking at 45 'a sign of faster ageing' | Slow walking at 45 'a sign of faster ageing' |
| (2 days later) | |
| How fast people walk in their 40s is a sign of how much their brains, as well as their bodies, are ageing, scientists have suggested. | How fast people walk in their 40s is a sign of how much their brains, as well as their bodies, are ageing, scientists have suggested. |
| Using a simple test of gait speed, researchers were able to measure the ageing process. | Using a simple test of gait speed, researchers were able to measure the ageing process. |
| Not only were slower walkers' bodies ageing more quickly - their faces looked older and they had smaller brains. | Not only were slower walkers' bodies ageing more quickly - their faces looked older and they had smaller brains. |
| The international team said the findings were an "amazing surprise". | The international team said the findings were an "amazing surprise". |
| Doctors often measure gait speed to gauge overall health, particularly in the over-65s, because it is a good indicator of muscle strength, lung function, balance, spine strength and eyesight. | Doctors often measure gait speed to gauge overall health, particularly in the over-65s, because it is a good indicator of muscle strength, lung function, balance, spine strength and eyesight. |
| Slower walking speeds in old age have also been linked to a higher risk of dementia and decline. | Slower walking speeds in old age have also been linked to a higher risk of dementia and decline. |
| 'Problem sign' | 'Problem sign' |
| In this study, of 1,000 people in New Zealand - born in the 1970s and followed to the age of 45 - the walking speed test was used much earlier, on adults in mid-life. | In this study, of 1,000 people in New Zealand - born in the 1970s and followed to the age of 45 - the walking speed test was used much earlier, on adults in mid-life. |
| The study participants also had physical tests, brain function tests and brain scans, and during their childhood they had had cognitive tests every couple of years. | The study participants also had physical tests, brain function tests and brain scans, and during their childhood they had had cognitive tests every couple of years. |
| "This study found that a slow walk is a problem sign decades before old age," said Prof Terrie E Moffitt, lead author from King's College London and Duke University in the US. | "This study found that a slow walk is a problem sign decades before old age," said Prof Terrie E Moffitt, lead author from King's College London and Duke University in the US. |
| Even at the age of 45, there was a wide variation in walking speeds with the fastest moving at over 2m/s at top speed (without running). | |
| In general, the slower walkers tended to show signs of "accelerated ageing" with their lungs, teeth and immune systems in worse shape than those who walked faster. | In general, the slower walkers tended to show signs of "accelerated ageing" with their lungs, teeth and immune systems in worse shape than those who walked faster. |
| The more unexpected finding was that brain scans showed the slower walkers were more likely to have older-looking brains too. | The more unexpected finding was that brain scans showed the slower walkers were more likely to have older-looking brains too. |
| And the researchers found they were able to predict the walking speed of 45-year-olds using the results of intelligence, language and motor skills tests from when they were three. | And the researchers found they were able to predict the walking speed of 45-year-olds using the results of intelligence, language and motor skills tests from when they were three. |
| The children who grew up to be the slowest walkers (with a mean gait of 1.2m/s) had, on average, an IQ 12 points lower than those who were the fastest walkers (1.75m/s) 40 years later. | The children who grew up to be the slowest walkers (with a mean gait of 1.2m/s) had, on average, an IQ 12 points lower than those who were the fastest walkers (1.75m/s) 40 years later. |
| Lifestyle link | Lifestyle link |
| The international team of researchers, writing in JAMA Network Open, said the differences in health and IQ could be due to lifestyle choices or a reflection of some people having better health at the start of life. | The international team of researchers, writing in JAMA Network Open, said the differences in health and IQ could be due to lifestyle choices or a reflection of some people having better health at the start of life. |
| But they suggest there are already signs in early life of who is going to fare better in health terms in later life. | But they suggest there are already signs in early life of who is going to fare better in health terms in later life. |
| The researchers said measuring walking speed at a younger age could be a way of testing treatments to slow human ageing. | The researchers said measuring walking speed at a younger age could be a way of testing treatments to slow human ageing. |
| A number of treatments, from low-calorie diets to taking the drug metformin, are currently being investigated. | A number of treatments, from low-calorie diets to taking the drug metformin, are currently being investigated. |
| It would also be an early indicator of brain and body health so people can make changes to their lifestyle while still young and healthy, the researchers said. | It would also be an early indicator of brain and body health so people can make changes to their lifestyle while still young and healthy, the researchers said. |