Abstract
BackgroundResearch has suggested the positive impact of physical activity on health and wellbeing in older age, yet few studies have investigated the associations between physical activity and heterogeneous trajectories of healthy ageing. We aimed to identify how physical activity can influence healthy ageing trajectories using a harmonised dataset of eight ageing cohorts across the world.MethodsBased on a harmonised dataset of eight ageing cohorts in Australia, USA, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and Europe, comprising 130,521 older adults (Mage = 62.81, SDage = 10.06) followed-up up to 10 years (Mfollow-up = 5.47, SDfollow-up = 3.22), we employed growth mixture modelling to identify latent classes of people with different trajectories of healthy ageing scores, which incorporated 41 items of health and functioning. Multinomial logistic regression modelling was used to investigate the associations between physical activity and different types of trajectories adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and other lifestyle behaviours.ResultsThree latent classes of healthy ageing trajectories were identified: two with stable trajectories with high (71.4%) or low (25.2%) starting points and one with a high starting point but a fast decline over time (3.4%). Engagement in any level of physical activity was associated with decreased odds of being in the low stable (OR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.19) and fast decline trajectories groups (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.50) compared to the high stable trajectory group. These results were replicated with alternative physical activity operationalisations, as well as in sensitivity analyses using reduced samples.ConclusionsOur findings suggest a positive impact of physical activity on healthy ageing, attenuating declines in health and functioning. Physical activity promotion should be a key focus of healthy ageing policies to prevent disability and fast deterioration in health.
Highlights
Research has suggested the positive impact of physical activity on health and wellbeing in older age, yet few studies have investigated the associations between physical activity and heterogeneous trajectories of healthy ageing
The models with three or more classes showed the existence of a subgroup comprising around 3–4% of the population displaying a high starting point and a fast decline over time
Main findings Using a harmonised dataset of eight ageing cohorts across the world, we identified three types of healthy ageing trajectories and investigated how physical activity in older age Latent classes (n = 130,521)
Summary
Research has suggested the positive impact of physical activity on health and wellbeing in older age, yet few studies have investigated the associations between physical activity and heterogeneous trajectories of healthy ageing. Health and social care burdens related to these adverse health conditions, maintenance of good health in later life has become a key priority for ageing research and health policy planning. In this regard, the latest World Report on Ageing and Health by the World Health Organization (WHO) [3] has provided a framework for the study and promotion of healthy ageing. Physical activity promotion has been suggested to reduce the risk of developing non-communicable diseases [5] and the healthcare expenditure [6], and to increase the satisfaction with one’s life and with the ageing process [7]. To provide novel insights on how physical activity can influence trajectories of healthy ageing in different populations, it is necessary to incorporate data from multiple cohort studies and use comparable measures for physical activity and healthy ageing
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