A firm handshake could be a sign of a longer life expectancy¹, according to British researchers.

英国研究人员称，握手有力可能意味着更长的寿命。

A firm handshake could be a sign of a longer life expectancy, according to British researchers.

Scientists at the Medical Research Council found that elderly people who could still give a firm handshake and walk at a brisk（敏锐的，灵活的） pace were likely to outlive（活得长） their slower peers.

They found simple measures of physical capability² like shaking hands, walking, getting up from a chair and balancing on one leg were related to life span, even after accounting³ 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 indicators⁴ for subsequent（后来的） 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 aged⁵ over 60 but living in the community rather than in hospital or care homes.

Of 14 studies dealing⁶ with grip strength, the researchers found that those with the strongest hand grasps tended to live longer than those with limp（柔软的，无力的） 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.