A new study from the University of Pittsburgh has found that older adults who often feel very tired after doing activities may face a higher risk of dying within a few years.
This research shows that strong feelings of physical tiredness, also called fatigue, can be a warning sign of serious health problems.
The study found that people who felt more tired were more likely to die within the next 2.7 years than those who felt less tired. While past research has shown that regular physical activity can help reduce tiredness, this study is the first to clearly link high fatigue with a higher chance of dying early.
The researchers used a special tool called the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale to measure tiredness. This scale was created in 2014 by the University of Pittsburgh and is now used around the world in 11 different languages.
It asks people to rate how tired they expect to feel after doing things like walking for 30 minutes, gardening, or doing light chores, using a score from 0 to 5.
The study included 2,906 people, all aged 60 or older, from the Long-Life Family Study. The researchers looked at their fatigue scores and tracked their health over time. They found that people who scored 25 or more on the fatigue scale were 2.3 times more likely to die within 2.7 years than those who scored less than 25.
This shows that feeling very tired is not just a small issue—it could be a sign of serious health risks. The study suggests that doctors and caregivers should pay close attention to how tired older people feel. Using the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale can help health workers identify people who might be at higher risk.
The study also supports the idea that staying active and eating well can help older adults live longer and healthier lives. It reminds us that tiredness is not just a normal part of aging but something that should be taken seriously.
The research was led by Nancy W. Glynn and published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. It gives us a new way of looking at aging and health. By keeping an eye on how tired older adults feel, we may be able to help them live longer and improve their quality of life.
If you care about wellness, please read studies about how ultra-processed foods and red meat influence your longevity, and why seafood may boost healthy aging.
For more health information, please see recent studies that olive oil may help you live longer, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
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