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Slowing pace could be an early warning of heart failure, dementia or cardiac disease.
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology believe walking speed is as important as pulse rate or blood pressure.
They have developed a sensor that hangs on the wall and transmits radio waves to detect a person’s gait and stride length as they move about their home.
Experts think the WiGait device, which is roughly the size of a small flat screen TV, can predict the onset of health problems through analysing the data it records.
The technology has been tested in care homes in the US and was able to measure walking speed with an accuracy of 95 to 99 per cent in the research phase.
Users can check their walking speeds on the app and also receive alerts if they are not active and encouraging them to take more exercise.