Older Adults Benefit from Any Type of Physical Activity

A new study completed at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam has found that for older people, any level of physical activity can reduce cardiovascular disease. The 18-year study analyzed data from more than 2,400 adults ages 39-79.

A link was found between reduced heart disease risk and physical activity in both middle-aged and elderly people. Elderly people who identified as moderately inactive had a 14% reduced risk of cardiovascular events compared to respondents who were completely inactive.

The study suggests that even very modest levels of activity can help the heart.  Low-intensity exercises like walking, housework, and gardening should be encouraged.

These findings were published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology on November 22, 2017.