步行速度與壽命之間的關係

People the world over are living longer, and now a new study shows who is likely to live the longest. The information could help doctors and others, including the elderly, plan goals for treatment and care.
　

全世界的人都活得更久了。現在一項新的研究顯示什麼人可能活得最長。這個資訊可以幫助醫生和其他人，包括老年人，制定治療和護理計劃目標。

Not many people who live to be 100 are still driving a car. But Mazerine Wingate is. His eyesight is still sharp, and not only that, he still goes to work six days a week at a post office in the eastern state of Maryland. He started his job as a janitor there when he was 60. And, you can find him keePing the post office spotlessly clean six days a week.

並不是所有活到100歲的人都還可以開車。但是馬澤林·溫蓋特可以。他的視力仍然很好，不僅如此，他每星期還在馬里蘭州東部一個郵局裏工作6天。他60歲時開始在那個郵局擔任房屋管理員。你可以看到，他每星期六天把郵局整理得一塵不染。

Wingate simply said, "I feel like working."

溫蓋特說，他喜歡工作。

Wingate said he has no major health issues. Rob Parsell, the photographer who shot this interview, asked him for advice. Wingate's recommendation: "Keep moving. Keep moving."

他沒有嚴重的健康問題。記者請教他的健康祕訣。他說，“多活動。”

"That's it? Just keep moving?" Parsell pressed.

"Keep moving," Wingate replied.

While it is unusual for people of that age to hold down a job, it is becoming more and more common to reach the 100-year mark. Dr. Neil Buckholtz at the National Institute on Aging said long life is a concern for governments the world over.

活到100歲的人越來越多，可是活到那個年紀還可以繼續工作，就非同尋常了。國家老化研究所的尼爾·布克霍爾茲博士說，長壽已經成爲世界各國政府關注的問題。

"The population, not only in the United States, but worldwide, of older people is increasing," said Buckholtz. "And actually, the fastest-growing group of people in the United States are those people over 85."

“世界各地，不僅僅是美國，老年人口都在增長。實際上，美國人口增長最快的是85歲以上的老人。”

A new study shows a relationship between fast walking and life expectancy. For this study, researchers looked at walking speed and other health factors for almost 35,000 older adults. They followed the participants for up to 20 years. Dr. Stephanie Studenski at the University of Pittsburgh led the study.

一項新的研究顯示了快步走和長壽之間的關係。在這項研究中，研究人員觀察了大約3萬5千名老年人的行走速度和其它健康因素。他們追蹤觀察了25年。匹茲堡大學的斯蒂凡尼·司徒登斯基博士是這項研究的負責人。

"Your walking speed is a reflection of just how well many of your body's systems are doing," noted Studenski.

她說：“行走的速度，反映出身體許多系統的健康狀況。”

By timing walking speed and using the longevity charts, doctors can provide better care for their patients. For example, most doctors don't screen patients older than 70 for prostate cancer. But if a man is otherwise healthy and energetic, and expected to live at least 10 more years, he might benefit from the screening. For those who are less healthy, doctors could look for ways to improve their health and quality of life.

根據行走速度並且參照壽命圖表，醫生可以爲病人提供更好的醫療照顧。例如，大部分的醫生不會對年逾70的病人作前列腺癌的掃描檢查。但是如果一個人健康並且充滿活力，預計至少還可以活10年，掃描檢查對他可能就有好處。而對於健康較差的人，醫生也可以設法改善他們健康和生活質量。

Dr. Studenski says the charts, while good, however, are not always indicators of longevity. Some people in good health just prefer to walk slowly.

不過，司徒登斯基博士說，行走速度和壽命對照表雖然不錯，但未必總是能作爲長壽指標。因爲有些健康的人願意慢慢地走。