Live Better, Live Longer: The Predictive Power of Functional Performance

Do you want to live a long life? Of course! But what about living a healthy long life? It’s not just about lifespan, it’s about healthspan – the number of years you live in good health, free from debilitating conditions. 

And what’s the key to maximising both? It might just surprise you: it’s your functional performance.

Our new UAre Research Paper – Functional Performance – A Primary Predictor of Longevity and Healthspan, dives deep into this crucial topic. It reveals some remarkable findings that could change how you think about aging and your health.

So, what exactly is functional performance? 

Simply put, it’s your ability to perform everyday tasks, from walking, dressing and playing with your kids, to managing finances and engaging socially. It encompasses physical, cognitive, and psychosocial well-being. Think of it as an integrated measure of how well your body and mind are working together. The key components include:

• Physical Function: This involves your mobility, strength, endurance, and balance.

• Cognitive Function: This covers your memory, attention, planning, and problem-solving skills.

• Psychosocial Wellbeing: This includes your emotional health, social engagement, and sense of purpose.

High functional performance is a powerful predictor of longevity and healthspan. 

Individuals with very high functional performance, as measured by gait speed, grip strength, cardiovascular fitness and mental acuity, can expect to live significantly longer and spend more of those years in good health. For instance, 70-year-olds with faster gait speeds may live up to 16-20 years longer than those with slower speeds!

Conversely, low functional performance takes a heavy toll. Those with reduced strength, high frailty or slow walking speeds face a considerably higher risk of premature death and are likely to experience more years with disability and chronic illness.

What makes functional performance such a powerful predictor? 

It's an integrative marker, reflecting the overall health and efficiency of multiple bodily systems. Unlike single biomarkers or individual diseases, it provides a holistic view of physiological resilience and biological age. And unlike genetics or chronological age, functional performance is largely modifiable.

How can I improve my functional performance?

That’s where UAre comes in. The UAre app and access to expert mentor services are designed to help you optimise these very components of functional performance. We focus on:

• Movement: UAre helps you measure and improve your physical function – building strength, enhancing mobility, and increasing endurance.

• Mindset: We provide tools and resources to track and boost your cognitive function and emotional well-being, helping you stay mentally sharp and manage stress.

• Relationships: UAre fosters social connection and provides platforms for engagement, supporting your psychosocial wellbeing.

• Habits: We guide you in developing healthy habits across nutrition, rest, smoking and drinking, supporting sustainable improvements in your overall functional performance.

The implications of this research.

Maintaining high functional performance is crucial for optimal aging. This has major implications for public health, clinical practice, and individual strategies. Public health initiatives should focus on creating environments that support physical activity and healthy living. Doctors should routinely assess functional performance in their patients. And individuals should take proactive steps to improve their functional capacity through exercise, healthy eating, and social engagement.

This research paper challenges the conventional focus on just treating diseases and instead champions the importance of maintaining overall functional well-being. It underscores that how well you function in your day-to-day life, is a key indicator of your future health and longevity. By focusing on functional performance, and with the help of tools like the UAre app, we have the opportunity to extend our healthspan, compress morbidity, and truly live better and live longer.

Want to learn more? 

Dive deeper into the details and discover the full extent of the findings and recommendations. Download our UAre Research Paper – Functional Performance – A Primary Predictor of Longevity and Healthspan and take control of your healthspan today.