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WHAT ARE THE FIVE WARNING SIGNS OF FRAILTY IN OLD AGE?

According to a June 2018 study by University College London, middle-aged people are at risk of frailness in later life if they:

  • Are obese: Some 7.9 per cent of obese people become frail compared to 2.7 per cent of those of a healthy weight
  • Are inactive: Sedentary people have a 6.2 per cent chance of suffering from sudden weight loss or exhaustion in later life versus 2.5-to-3.5 per cent of those who are active
  • Smoke: Some 5.4 per cent of smokers become frail compared to 3.5 per cent without the habit
  • Have high interleukin 6 levels: This is a marker of inflammation in the body. Those with the highest levels have a four per cent risk of frailness versus one per cent with the lowest
  • Have high C-reactive protein levels: Also a mark of inflammation, middle-aged people with the highest levels have a four per cent chance of being physically weak versus a two per cent risk in those with the lowest amounts. These proteins can be reduced by de-stressing and cutting back on sugar.
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