研究:握手有力的老人寿命更长

    A firm handshake（握手） could be a sign of a longer life expectancy（预期寿命）, according to British researchers.
    Scientists at the Medical Research Council(委员会) found that elderly people who could still give a firm handshake and walk at a brisk pace were likely to outlive their slower peers.
    They found simple measures of physical capability¹ like shaking hands, walking, getting up from a chair and balancing on one leg were related to life span, even after accounting² for age, sex and body size. The study is the first to provide a comprehensive view of the existing research by pooling data from 33 studies.
    "These measures have been used in population-based research for quite a long time," said Rachel Cooper of the Medical Research Council's Unit for Lifelong Health and Aging. "They may be useful indicators（指示器） for subsequent health."Cooper, whose study appears in the British Medical Journal, said more studies are needed to clarify whether the measures would be helpful to doctors as a screening tool. "I wouldn't suggest that we roll them out into clinical practice tomorrow, but it is possible that they could be used in the future," she told Reuters Health.
    The researchers examined 33 studies involving tens of thousands of people, most of whom were aged³ over 60 but living in the community rather than in hospital or care homes.
    Of 14 studies dealing⁴ with grip strength, the researchers found that those with the strongest hand grasps tended to live longer than those with limp grips.
    The death rate over the period of the studies for people with weak handshakes was 67 percent higher than for people with a firm grip.
    The slowest walkers were nearly three times more likely to die during the study period than swifter walkers.
    The people who were slowest to get up from a chair had about double the mortality rate compared to the quick risers.
    "Those people in the general population who have higher physical capability levels are likely to live longer," Cooper said.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

2 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

3 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。