7 comments

  • pnut 1 hour ago
    I walk slower and talk slower than I used to, and do both way slower than people I interact with.

    I can appreciate things better by moving slowly, with more intention, conserving my concentration and energy for matters of substance.

    Why must moving slowly be stigmatised?

    I am surrounded by people talking at such a high rate, they start responding before the other person's sentence or thought is completely expressed.

    My value at work has become disentangling messes made by people failing to communicate effectively, and the first step in addressing that problem is always, slow down.

    You will not get 10% further in life by going 10% faster. People moving quickly, failed at planning. The entire mystery of the universe is accessible to you in your current location.

    • CSSer 19 minutes ago
      I fully agree with you about communicating, but I’m not persuaded that translates to movement or is required for wisdom, which I think you’re broadly describing.

      Physical movement can be joy. Dancing, running with children, playing sports with friends, and even just taking care of errands like cleaning so we can get on to enjoying our spaces with our friends and family are all benefits from being able to move and react faster. And I imagine any number of things will slow me down as I age, so I’ll take a +10% wherever I can get it!

    • andrelaszlo 2 minutes ago
      Being mindful is great. The article is just saying it's a health indicator:

      > So why does walking speed even matter? It’s considered an important indicator of overall health. A hale and hearty speed signifies that your body’s systems—including your heart, lungs, muscles and nervous system—are working well together. “We call it the sixth vital sign”

    • jgalt212 41 minutes ago
      > Why must moving slowly be stigmatized?

      Because, irrespective of your individual case, slowing down correlates strongly with ageing and diminished faculties.

      • kakacik 25 minutes ago
        Unless, you do it on purpose for reasons parent described. Stupid teenagerish kneejerk reactions are common, as are ego moves like comparing against each other (frequently done by deeply insecure individuals), that doesn't mean they are a smart long term approach to life, regardless of age.

        I am old enough to know they aren't. That doesn't mean I don't like walking fast if situation allows, but thats part of my continuous training, injury recovery, or active rest.

  • cubefox 1 minute ago
    There is also a correlation between walking pace and IQ. See e.g. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle...
  • erelong 1 hour ago
  • m463 1 hour ago
    proprioception degrades with age, strength training is the counter.

    (from "younger next year")

    • AnimalMuppet 59 minutes ago
      Why strength training, instead of, say, ultimate frisbee or pickleball?
      • lc9er 42 minutes ago
        I'm a big fan of strength training, but think it too often gets suggested as the solution to every problem, when really, we need some mix of strength training, cardio (anything from walking, to martial arts or team sports, whatever you'll actually do), mobility, and balance training. Your cardio/activity, depending on your choice could, account for a lot of this.
      • pnw 3 minutes ago
        Pickleball has a disproportionately high injury rate for people over 40. You'd be far better off taking up the gym or yoga.
      • ordersofmag 36 minutes ago
        Strength training can be done carefully with correct motions. Team sports with unpredictable dynamic movement not so much. Not to say you shouldn't engage in these, at any age, and that they have positive health benefits. They just aren't as safe as strength training for folks at the age where this is all relevant.
      • browningstreet 19 minutes ago
        Resistance training. A thing even professional frisbee or pickleball player usually still supplement with, as well…

        Systemic and muscular vitality is optimized when you get cardio, resistance, and bounding/dynamic movement. Heart, slow twitch, and fast twitch.

      • m463 47 minutes ago
        made me wonder too, found: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4477923/

        > Key Points

        > - Improvements in joint position sense can be attained via standard strength-training exercises.

        > - Performing resistance exercises at consistent intensity rather than varying intensity resulted in better proprioception performance.

      • djmips 37 minutes ago
        I am convinced that ultimate frisbee and pickleball also work. Another one is running or walking in nature, for example a beach - basically moving through an environment where the ground isn't flat.
      • kakacik 22 minutes ago
        One can be done in old age, with some care (or bodyweight variant), ultimate frisbee... I can't imagine, unless you mean just frisbee. More like recipe for injured joint.
  • m3kw9 6 minutes ago
    is it because you use more of your focus to try to hear things so you walk slower.
  • j4cobgarby 1 hour ago
    Are problems with the ear the cause of this (i.e., the Problem), or just another symptom of a broader problem? My impression from the article is the latter.
    • AnthonBerg 1 hour ago
      Exactly.

      Oxidative stress is my unrelenting hunch.

      (Frankly, it is ridiculous to me that doctors go around saying that fixing your hearing will free up your brain will fix your life. Fix the thing that's dragging down an expensive system that's wired straight into the sensorium and yep, you'll fix your other expensive systems like the brain.)

    • kennywinker 1 hour ago
      https://xkcd.com/552/ Seems appropriate
      • Ylpertnodi 48 minutes ago
        > appropriate

        Fair play for not using the word 'obligatory '.