A recent study from the University of Pittsburgh reveals that how tired certain activities make an older person feel can be a strong predictor of their likelihood of dying within the next few years.
Researchers found that older adults who reported feeling more fatigued after various activities were more than twice as likely to pass away within 2.7 years compared to those who felt less fatigued.
The study, published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, focused on “physical fatigability”—how tired people feel or imagine they would feel after activities like walking, light housework, or gardening.
This was measured using the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale, a tool developed in 2014 that has since been translated into 11 languages.
Researchers assessed 2,906 participants aged 60 and older from the Long Life Family Study. Each participant rated how much fatigue they expected to feel from specific activities on a scale of 0 to 5.
Those who scored 25 or higher on the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale were found to be 2.3 times more likely to die in the next 2.7 years than those who scored below 25, even after adjusting for other factors that affect mortality.
This is the first study to establish a direct link between higher levels of physical fatigability and an earlier death.
Previous research has shown that regular physical activity can help reduce fatigue, but this study highlights the importance of identifying and addressing severe fatigue as a potential marker for health risks in older adults.
The findings also underscore the value of the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale as a tool for predicting health outcomes.
By identifying individuals with high fatigability, healthcare providers might intervene earlier to improve their overall health and potentially extend their lives.
For those interested in improving longevity, the study adds to a growing body of evidence about the importance of maintaining physical activity and addressing fatigue.
Other research suggests that antioxidants can reverse some effects of aging in blood vessels, Omega-3 supplements can reduce stress and slow aging, and specific types of exercise can help maintain bone health and prevent age-related decline.
This research, led by Nancy W. Glynn and her team, provides a new perspective on how fatigue levels in older adults can serve as an early warning sign of serious health risks, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and managing physical fatigue in aging populations.
If you care about pain, please read studies about vitamin K deficiency linked to hip fractures in old people, and these vitamins could help reduce bone fracture risk.
For more information about wellness, please see recent studies that Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people, and eating yogurt linked to lower frailty in older people.
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