Exercise helps elderly live longer

Israeli researchers have found that adults who continue or begin to exercise in later life appear to live longer and have a lower risk of disability.

The study, which stretched over more than a decade, involved nearly 2,000 pensioners aged 70 tested for their fitness at ages 70, 78, and 85.

Those doing less than four hours of exercise a week were classed as "sedentary" and those doing four hours were termed "active".

Physically active 70 to 78-year-olds were found to be 12 per cent less likely to die than their sedentary counterparts.

While those between 78 and 85 were 15 per cent less likely to die, those aged 85 to 88 had 17 per cent less chance of dying.

Regular physical activity can also benefit the over-70s with more independence, less loneliness and better general health, the study claimed.

The research was conducted by a team of experts from Jerusalem's Hebrew University Medical Centre and Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School and the findings were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The authors wrote: "The clinical ramifications are far-reaching. As this rapidly growing sector of the population assumes a prominent position in preventive and public health measures, our findings clearly support the continued encouragement of physical activity, even among the oldest old."

Copyright Press Association 2009

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