Exercise Beneficial for Healthy Aging

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The benefits of engaging in regular exercise during middle age and beyond are demonstrated in several studies published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Here are some tips to help you stick to a regular exercise program:

• Find a type of exercise or activity that you enjoy doing

• Find a partner to join you in the activity with so that you can provide each other with support and motivation

• Challenge yourself by setting reasonable goals and making an effort to reach them

Researchers from the Technical University of Munich followed the exercise habits of nearly 4,000 volunteers over 55 years of age during a two-year period. They found that physical activity was independently associated with a reduced risk for experiencing a decline in intellectual functioning, based on a simple test of cognitive skills.

Using a broader battery of tests that assess intellect, cognition, and mental health, researchers from The University of British Columbia in Vancouver evaluated the impact of 1-year of once or twice weekly resistance training, as compared with twice weekly balance and tone training, among 155 women aged 65 to 75. Those who participated in the resistance training were less likely to experience a decline in measures of executive functioning, and those who followed the resistance training routine most closely had better scores on tests of selective attention and conflict resolution. Interestingly, resistance training was also associated with a small reduction in brain volume.

Researchers out of the Harvard School of Public Health used data from the Nurses’ Health Study to demonstrate that exercising during middle age increases the likelihood of being physically, mentally, and intellectually healthy at age 70 and beyond.

Finally, researchers from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg randomly assigned nearly 250 women aged 65 and older to an 18-month exercise or wellness program. Those in the exercise program had better bone health and fewer falls than those in the wellness program, although healthcare costs were similar for both groups.

Today’s research highlights some of the benefits of remaining physically active into middle age and beyond. These include remaining intellectually sharp, having better bone health, and being in better shape physically, mentally, and intellectually.

Insidermedicine

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