Can 150 minutes of physical activity a week help extend lifespan in older adults?
- A physically active lifestyle late in life is linked to aging well.
- A new article published by the Canadian Medical Association reports getting 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week can increase an older person’s independence, as well as cognitive and mental well-being.
- People who exercise 150 minutes each week reduce their risk of all-cause mortality by 31%, according to the study.
- An older adult can gradually and safely work their way up to this amount of exercise in consultation with their physician or healthcare professional.
A new article, which is a review of existing research, argues that physical activity can significantly enhance one’s quality of life in one’s later years.
The article notes that a lack of physical activity is a risk factor for more than 30 chronic conditions that affect older adults.
The amount of exercise widely recommended for younger people — 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week — also applies to older people.
The review states that research finds that 150 weekly minutes of moderate physical activity can reduce all-cause mortality by 31% compared to a week with no appreciable physical activity.
Exercise can improve a person’s strength and thus their physical independence while reducing their likelihood of falling, a major hazard later in life.
Being physically active is associated with an overall improvement in quality of life, as well as stronger cognitive and mental health.
One of the central points of the review is that one’s age, frailty, or physical impairments do not mean that physical activity should be avoided, considering the many health benefits it can confer. Though they are factors to accommodate, they should not stop a person from moving more to live better.
“As a review article, the main purpose is to synthesize available literature that is up-to-date,” explained first author Jane Thornton, MD, PhD, CCFP [SEM], Canada Research Chair and Clinician Scientist specializing in physical activity in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease.
The document is, first and foremost, directed toward physicians and healthcare providers, to emphasize the point that “many older adults who are living with chronic disease or who are inactive could benefit substantially by incorporating an active lifestyle.”
To that end, the article includes self-questionnaires with which clinicians can guide themselves as they develop appropriate exercise plans for their patients.
“As a review article, the main purpose is to synthesize available literature that is up-to-date,” explained first author Jane Thornton, MD, PhD, CCFP [SEM], Canada Research Chair and Clinician Scientist specializing in physical activity in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease.
The document is, first and foremost, directed toward physicians and healthcare providers, to emphasize the point that “many older adults who are living with chronic disease or who are inactive could benefit substantially by incorporating an active lifestyle.”
To that end, the article includes self-questionnaires with which clinicians can guide themselves as they develop appropriate exercise plans for their patients.
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