# How Fast You Stand Up May Predict Your Lifespan Better Than Your Illnesses

*Physical Fitness and All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults.*

- **Evidence Level**: Moderate
- **Publication Types**: Journal Article
- **Journal**: JAMA network open
- **Sample Size**: 13,423 community-dwelling adults aged 65+
- **Authors**: Wu MC, Hsu CT, Hsu HT, Ho CC, Shy DY, Lin LH, Hung CC, Chen YL, Chen CH, Liaw YP, Liang LL
- **Published**: 2026-08-03
- **Topics**: fitness, healthy aging, mortality
- **DOI**: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.28227
- **Original Source**: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42574013/

## Summary

Doctors usually judge older patients by their list of diagnoses. But in nearly 13,500 Taiwanese adults over 65, simple fitness tests told a stronger story. Those who scored highest on a get-up-and-walk test had about 60% lower risk of dying over seven years than the lowest scorers. Balance, leg strength, and stamina mattered most, and combining all seven tests predicted survival best.

## Practical Takeaway

This study suggests simple balance and chair-stand tests can flag how well you're aging.

---

_Canonical: https://longevity-china.com/en/research/how-fast-you-stand-up-may-predict-your-lifespan-better-than-your-illnesses · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-08-03_