A regular walking routine can help you live longer, even if you’re in your 80s and beyond.
New research suggests that walking for as little as 10 minutes per day can extend the lives of people aged 80 and older, reducing the risk of all causes of mortality.
As people get older, they’re less likely to meet activity requirements. It may have to do with time, injury, or energy. However, it seems like a little walking may help remedy all of those issues.
Previous research has shown that activity can boost energy and help relieve joint pain. The new research suggests that walking can also give people more time.
The study, conducted in South Korea, examined the link between walking and death risks from various causes among 7,000 people aged 85 and older.
It found that, compared to inactive individuals, those who walked for at least one hour per week had a 40 percent lower risk of all-cause death and a 39 percent lower risk of death related to heart problems during the five-year study period.
The link was there whether the participants performed any moderate or vigorous activity. Leisure strolls through the park, therefore, were linked with benefits.
The U.S. government suggests that all adults get 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week. However, this new work shows that even an hour of light activity can yield results for adults in their 80s and beyond.
If you’re in your 80s and want to live longer—and likely better—try including a short 10-minute walk into your daily routine. If you go longer, that’s great. But about an hour per week, divided between days, will be enough to gain significant benefits.
