Physical Activity Reduces Mortality in Older Adults

Keeping active as an older adult doesn't necessarily mean taking part in aformal exercise program. New research suggests that “free-living”activity has a beneficial effect that reduces the risk of mortality amongolder adults who are generally healthy.

A group of researchers studied energy expenditure in 302 high-functioningolder adults 70–82 years over a 2-week period. Participants werefollowed for an average 6.15 years while investigators kept track of all-causemortality.

When participants were categorized into tertiles based on activity level,researchers found that those who were in the highest tertile of activity had asignificantly lower risk of mortality than those in the lowest activitytertile—less than half the risk. Self-reported high-intensity activitiessuch as exercise, walking, and volunteering did not vary substantially betweenthe groups. But those people who reported higher levels of free-livingactivity were more likely to work for pay and climbstairs.

“Simply expending energy through any activity may influence survivalin older adults,” researchers conclude.

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