Can physical activity extend the lifespans of older adults? A review article published in CMAJ ( Canadian Medical Association Journal ) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.
1503/cmaj.231336 summarizes the considerable evidence supporting the important role physical activity plays in preventing or reducing the effects of diseases and discusses how to prescribe effective exercise for older adults. Canada's population is aging, with at least 1 in 5 people aged 65 years or older in 2025, and the number of people older than age 85 years is expected to triple in the next 20 years.
However, for many people, these added years do not mean healthy years. More than 80% of adults do not meet the recommendations for physical activity from the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines . "Physical activity is one of the most important ways to preserve or improve functional independence, including among older adults who are frail or deemed to be at increased risk of falling," writes Dr.
Jane Thornton, associate professor at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, and director of health, medicine and science at the International Olympic Committee. Higher levels of physical activity in older age are associated with improvements in cognition, mental health, and quality of life." Dr.
Jane Thornton, Associate Professor, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University A 2023 meta-analysis of several large studies found that 150 minutes of moderate physica.
