More Evidence Physical Activity is a Plus for Seniors

Q. My adult daughter is constantly after me to exercise more, but at age 85 I just don’t see the point. It’s all I can do just to keep up care of my home. Do you think it’s a good idea?

Yes, but don’t take our word for it. Here’s more evidence that physical activity may delay the spiral of decline that begins with inability to perform daily activities and continues through illness and death.

And the research, which appeared in a recent Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, shows that seniors who start exercising even at age 85 can live longer and healthier lives.

Researchers 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.

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.

These active seniors also were more likely to remain independent and experience fewer declines in their ability to perform daily tasks, report less loneliness and were less likely to have poor self-rated health.

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, according to the research.

By enlisting the help of a family member or agency such as Home Instead Senior Care to assist around your home, you would likely have more time and energy for exercise. Call today for more information.

For more about this study, log on to http://pubs.ama-assn.org/media/2009a/0914.dtl#2.