Seniors age better when active

Keeping active at older ages will keep you healthy.

It may seem like a no-brainer to many, but a new study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine  has linked an active lifestyle in older populations with good health.

Throughout an eight-year study, 3,454 British men and women with an average age of 64 were asked to self report their activity levels each week, which were divided into three categories: inactive, moderately active, and vigorously active. Moderately active was considered to be walking or bike riding regularly, and vigorously active would be activities more similar to running.

After eight years, 19.3 per cent of the sample group was considered to have aged healthily. They did not develop any chronic disease, brain ailments or depression. Of those who had aged healthily, those who partook in regular moderate activity were 3.1 times more likely to age healthily, and the rate was 4.3 times for those who reported regular vigorous activity.

Also, many who began the study as inactive and adopted activity during the eight years saw improvements in their health.

The study is more evidence in a growing body of research to support the idea that prescribing regular activity can be a great way to keep an aging population healthy.