Paris: People who start exercise even late in life can reap the benefit in good health, a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine said on Monday.
Researchers tracked the health of nearly 3,500 Britons whose average age was 64, for more than eight years.
People who had a record of sustained and regular exercise - meaning vigorous activity at least once a week - boosted the likelihood of “healthy ageing” sevenfold compared to a lifestyle of persistent inactivity.
The gain among newcomers to exercise was roughly triple.
“Significant health benefits were... seen among participants who became physically active relatively late in life,” the paper said.
“Healthy ageing” was rated by an absence of major diseases and disabilities, good mental health - the lack of depression or cognitive decline - and the ability to maintain social connections.
Around a fifth of the volunteers fell into this category at the eight-year follow-up mark.
Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for premature death - after smoking, excessive drinking and obesity - causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths globally, according to the World Health Organisation.
“This study supports public health initiatives designed to engage older adults in physical activity, even those who are of advanced age,” the researchers, led by Mark Hamer at University College London, said in the published paper.
Participants, taken from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, described the frequency and intensity of regular physical activity from 2002 and every subsequent two years until 2011. Any participants with existing chronic disease were excluded.
Healthy ageing was measured through absence of major disease and disability, mental health, cognitive abilities and ability to maintain social connections.
The study was funded by the US National Institute on Ageing and a consortium of UK government departments coordinated by the Office for National Statistics.
