Study: keeping active in old age helps you age well

Although something many believe anecdotally to be true, surprisingly little research has been done on the benefits of staying mobile and active in old age.

A new, large study published this week in Journal of the American Medical Association looked at the effects of aerobic and resistance training on those between the ages of 70-89.

The study, which took place between the 2010 and 2013 saw 1,635 men and women participate over an average duration of 2.6 years. All of the participants were about to walk 400m at the beginning of the study. They were split into two groups: half were put on on exercise program and the other half put in a health education group.

The group put on an exercise program saw a large jump in number of minutes spent doing moderate exercise each to 218. The group enrolled in the health education saw a smaller bump, to only 115 minutes per week, a large difference of 103 minutes per week more exercise.

All the extra exercise paid off. At the end of the trial, the group who had been in the exercise program were nearly 20 per cent less likely to have been temporarily disabled. They were nearly 30 per cent less likely to have become disabled for a long period, possibly permanently.

Although the subjects were graded mostly on their ability to walk freely and be independently mobile, the study seems to fall in line with anecdotal evidence that staying active into old age will help keep you healthy and avoid becoming sedentary.

Just one more reason to get out and keep moving.