Abstract
We aimed to examine the temporal association between physical activity and successful aging. The analyses involved 1,584 adults aged 49 + years living west of Sydney (Australia), who did not have cancer, coronary artery disease and stroke at baseline and who were followed over 10 years. Participants provided information on the performance of moderate or vigorous activities and walking exercise and this was used to determine total metabolic equivalents (METs) minutes of activity per week. Successful aging status was determined through interviewer-administered questionnaire and was classified as the absence of: depressive symptoms, disability, cognitive impairment, respiratory symptoms and systemic conditions (e.g. cancer, coronary artery disease). 249 (15.7%) participants (mean age 59.9 ± 6.1) had aged successfully 10 years later. After multivariable adjustment; older adults in the highest level of total physical activity (≥5000 MET minutes/week; n = 71) compared to those in the lowest level of total physical activity (<1000 MET minutes/week; n = 934) had 2-fold greater odds of aging successfully than normal aging, odds ratio, OR, 2.08 (95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.12–3.88). Older adults who engaged in high levels of total physical activity, well above the current recommended minimum level had a greater likelihood of aging successfully 10 years later.
Highlights
We aimed to examine the temporal association between physical activity and successful aging
In our cohort study of adults aged 49+ years at baseline we aimed to investigate whether total physical activity is independently associated with successful aging, which was defined as not experiencing disability and chronic disease, having good mental health and functional independence, and reporting optimal physical, respiratory and cognitive function during 10 years of follow-up
The overall continuous trend per 1000 unit increase in baseline physical activity was significantly associated with successful aging at the 10-year follow-up: multivariable-adjusted OR 1.08, p = 0.008
Summary
We aimed to examine the temporal association between physical activity and successful aging. Older adults who engaged in high levels of total physical activity, well above the current recommended minimum level had a greater likelihood of aging successfully 10 years later. Successful aging is specified as a multi-domain concept that comprises and transcends good health, and is made up of a wide spectrum of biopsychosocial factors; for example, Rowe and Kahn previously defined successful aging as not suffering from chronic diseases, having optimal social engagement and mental health, as well as a lack of physical disability[1]. In our cohort study of adults aged 49+ years at baseline we aimed to investigate whether total physical activity is independently associated with successful aging, which was defined as not experiencing disability and chronic disease (coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer), having good mental health and functional independence, and reporting optimal physical, respiratory and cognitive function during 10 years of follow-up. We examined the association between levels of physical activity and 10-year mortality risk in this population
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