BGU Study Finds Step Speed May Signal Older-Adult Longevity

Ben-Gurion University research shows that how quickly an older adult starts a voluntary step, especially while doing a cognitive task, may help predict survival. BGU's June 22 release says Prof. Itshak Melzer's team analyzed balance data from 120 community-dwelling older adults followed for 10 to 17 years, and found that every extra 100 milliseconds of distracted step-initiation time was associated with a 28% higher mortality risk. The exploratory Gerontology study argues the simple test captures brain-body resilience better than static balance alone. Israeli health science is turning small clinical signals into practical tools for longer, more independent lives.