Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh report that for people in their 70s, the ability to walk a quarter-mile may predict their risk of developing heart disease, becoming disabled, and dying.

"The ability to complete this walk was a powerful indicator of health outcomes," Newman says in a University of Pittsburgh news release. "In fact, we found that the people who could not complete the walk were at an extremely high risk of later disability and death. (WebMD.com)