The deterioration of the motor function is about 65 years old, for example, difficulties when you get up from the chair or dressing, is an alarming sign indicating ambulance death. To this conclusion, scientists of France and the United Kingdom came to the results of scientific research in the BMJ magazine.
Specialists analyzed data on six thousand volunteers aged 35 to 55 years who participated in the WHITEHALL II study in 1985-88, aimed at studying the influence of social, behavioral and biological factors on the long term.
In the period from 2007 to 2016, participants were used to assess the motor function up to three times. It included the speed of walking speed, the time of lifting from the chair and the power of graft, as well as indicators of functioning and difficulties in everyday life, such as dressing, use toilet, cooking and buying products. Then until October 2019, cases of death were recorded regardless of the cause.
Researchers have found that a weaker motor function has been associated with an increased mortality risk: 22 percent for walking speed, 15 percent for the power of grip and 14 percent for lifting time from the chair, while the difficulties with everyday activities were associated with Risk increases by 30 percent. In the dead participants, the rates of climbing time from the chair were worse than those who survived, 10 years before death, self-assessment of the motor functioning was worse over seven years before death, and there were more difficulties in everyday life four years before death.
How the authors write, early detection of changes in the motor function can help prevent and implement targeted interventions to preserve the health and life of elderly patients.