The Health ‘Dow Jones’: Is Your Personal Stock Trending Up or Down?

A leading cardiologist suggests you can track your personal health like the stock market, and your balance is the “Dow Jones” index. A simple 10-second, one-legged stand can tell you if your health stock is trending up or crashing.
This financial analogy is backed by a 2022 study that tracked the “market performance” of 1,700 older adults. The research showed that their balance “index” was a powerful leading indicator of their future health and survival prospects.
The study’s data was like a stock chart. A high, stable index—passing the 10-second test—was a “bull market” signal, associated with a greater than 90% chance of seven more years of positive returns (disability-free life). A low, volatile index was a “bear market” warning.
The cardiologist explains that this is because balance is an index of your body’s total assets. It reflects the combined performance of your neurological “capital,” your sensory “investments,” and your muscular “infrastructure.” A dip in the index means a problem in your overall portfolio.
If your personal Dow Jones is in a downturn, it’s time to reinvest. The expert recommends a new investment strategy that includes “growth stocks” like yoga and Tai Chi. These activities are known to improve your body’s fundamental value, drive your index up, and secure your long-term financial—and physical—health.