In initially well-functioning older adults, blacks had poorer mobility status based on walking speed compared to whites, which was not explained by poverty, education, reading level or income adequacy

A team of researchers examined the relationship between race and mobility to evaluate how socioeconomic status indicators such as education and poverty level affect this relationship. Using data from the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study, researchers examined black and white participants between the ages of 70 to 79 who self-reported capacity to walk a quarter mile and climb 10 steps at a reasonable pace. In initially well-functioning older adults, blacks had poorer mobility status based on walking speed compared to whites, which was not explained by poverty, education, reading level or income adequacy. Over five years, black men experienced greater mobility limitation than white men.