While the benefits of physical activity are clear among the majority of the population, there has been little research on its effects in older people.  Jeremy M. Jacobs, from Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School (Jerusalem, Israel), and colleagues examined the effects of continuing, increasing, or decreasing physical activity on levels on survival, function, and health status among the very old. In their study involving 1,861 men and women, ages 70 to 88 years, and lasting a follow-up period of 18 years, the researchers found that those elderly men and women who are physically active (4 or more hours of physical activity per day) increase their chances of living longer and maintaining functional independence, as compared to their sedentary peers (less than 4 hours physical activity daily).

Among active 70-year-olds, the team found that 15% died over the next 8 years, compared to 27% of sedentary 70-year-olds. Eight-year mortality was 26% for active 78-year-olds, and 41% for sedentary peers. Among 85-year-olds, 3-year mortality was roughly 7% for active individuals as compared to 24% for sedentary counterparts. States Dr. Jacobs: “Controlling for the [major risk] factors allowed us to isolate physical activity as an independent factor in mortality, and not just an indicator of the overall health of the subjects.”