…then you’re probably in pretty good nick if you’re middle-aged or older, according to a world-first international study. Previous research has linked poor balance with a higher risk of stroke and dementia. But in a first look at the relationship between balance and mortality, 1,702 people aged between 51-75yo with a stable gait were given 3 attempts to balance on one leg for 10 seconds – something one in 5 participants wasn’t able to do. A decade later, 123 of those participants had died from various causes. After accounting for other factors, researchers found those who couldn’t balance were twice as likely to die within a decade from any cause than those who could. The research was purely observational, but findings were so stark that experts reckon a balance test should become an established feature of health checkups for older people. If you see someone standing on one leg today, say hi – they’re likely a Squizer…