Description
New research from NIAMS and NIAID indicates that preventive medicine and musculoskeletal interventions have important economic benefits. Using decades of data on health and income, researchers showed that faster walking speeds and mobility are strongly associated with higher income. People who maintained their mobility level were able to work longer and had higher incomes as they aged. Lastly, regular exercise is associated with improved mobility for people of all income levels.
What is exciting about this article?
Staying active is not only good for your body but can also boost your income. Results from this study show that older adults with better mobility tend to earn more and work longer than those with limited mobility. Therefore, routine exercise could be a great investment for future financial wellbeing. The cost of interventions that increase mobility, like joint replacements or some medications, might be balanced out by the increase in future earning potential that they provide. In other words, staying active not only offers health benefits but also pays in the long run.
Grant support
1ZIDAR041180
Research Areas:
Research reported in this publication was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIHʼs National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.