A new study by scientists at University College London found that the strength of a hand's grip can indicate whether a person will live longer. The researchers looked at balance, grip strength and how quickly they could get up from a chair to predict life expectancy. Those who performed well in these areas also had a better chance of living longer, according to the study published in the British Medical Journal. It is hoped that such a simple test will help doctors discover which patients are at risk of dying. The findings combined more than 30 previous studies with thousands of participants to find a link between physical fitness and longevity. The vast majority of people in the study were over 60, but none of them needed to be in a hospital or nursing home. The researchers found that those with the least grip were 67 percent more likely to die than those with the strongest grip. The same study pattern found that the slowest walkers were nearly three times more likely to die than the fastest walkers. Those who rose the slowest from their seats were twice as likely to die as those who rose the fastest. The ability to stand on one leg also seems to indicate longevity. Even in people under the age of 60 who do not have any medical conditions, grip strength seems to correlate with longevity.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/uk/2010/09/100910_han_d_health.shtml