Senior Citizens Live Longer, Healthier, Happier
Lives if They Exercise, Study Finds
Physical activity may delay the spiral of decline
that begins with inability to perform daily activities and continues
through illness and death
Sept. 14, 2009 Senior citizens who exercise
even if they start as late as age 85 live longer, healthier, happier
lives, according to a report in the September 14 issue of Archives of
Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
"Physical activity is a modifiable behavior
associated with health, functional status and longevity, and encouraging
a physically active lifestyle has become an accepted public health
goal," the authors write as background information in the article.
However, most research on the benefits of physical activity has focused
on middle-aged populations.
Jochanan Stessman, M.D., and colleagues at Hebrew
University Medical Center and Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School,
Jerusalem, studied 1,861 individuals born in 1920 and 1921. Participants
underwent assessments in their homes at ages 70, 78 and 85 years, during
which they were asked about their physical activity levels.
Those who performed less than four hours per week
of physical activity were considered sedentary, while those who
exercised about four hours weekly, performed vigorous activities such as
jogging or swimming at least twice weekly or who engaged in regular
physical activity (for example, walking at least an hour daily) were
considered physically active.
The proportion of participants who were physically
active was -
● 53.4 percent at age 70,
● 76.9 percent at age 77 and
● 64 percent at age 85.
When compared with those who were sedentary,
individuals who were physically active were -
● 12 percent less likely to die between ages 70 and 78,
● 15 percent less likely to die between ages 78 and 85 and
● 17 percent less likely to die between ages 85 and 88.
They were also more likely to remain independent
and experienced fewer declines in their ability to perform daily tasks.
These active seniors also reported fewer new
instances of loneliness -
● 12.2 percent vs. 22.6 percent from ages 70 to 78 and
● 26.5 percent vs. 44.1 percent from ages 78 to 85.
They also were less likely to have poor self-rated
health -
● 77.3 percent vs. 63.3 percent from ages 70 to 78 and
● 63.8 percent vs. 82.6 percent from ages 78 to 85.
The benefits associated with physical activity were
observed not only in those who maintained an existing level of physical
activity, but also in those who began exercising between ages 70 and 85.
"Although the mechanism of the survival benefit is
most likely multifactorial, one important finding was the sustained
protective effect of physical activity against functional decline," the
authors write.
Physical activity may delay the spiral of decline
that begins with inability to perform daily activities and continues
through illness and death by improving cardiovascular fitness, slowing
loss of muscle mass, reducing fat, improving immunity and suppressing
inflammation.
"Despite the increasing likelihood of comorbidity,
frailty, dependence and ever-shortening life expectancy, remaining and
even starting to be physically active increases the likelihood of living
longer and staying functionally independent," the authors write.
"The clinical ramifications are far reaching. As
this rapidly growing sector of the population assumes a prominent
position in preventive and public health measures, our findings clearly
support the continued encouragement of physical activity, even among the
oldest old. Indeed, it seems that it is never too late to start."
Editor's Note: The Jerusalem Longitudinal Study has
received funds from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the
State of Israel; ESHEL, the Association for the Planning and Development
of Services for the Aged in Israel; the National Insurance Institute;
and various private, charitable donors.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Sept. 14, 2009 Senior citizens who exercise
even if they start as late as age 85 live longer, healthier, happier
lives, according to a report in the September 14 issue of Archives of
Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. 
