Physical activity over 60 improves quality of life

Summary: Researchers have found a correlation between physical activity in adults over sixty and quality of life. The study, involving nearly 1,500 participants, found that reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behavior lead to a lower quality of life.

This research highlights the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle into adulthood. Regular moderate to vigorous physical activity can reduce the risk of several health complications and can improve overall well-being.

Highlights:

1. Participants who were more physically active and spent less time in sedentary activities at the start had a better quality of life in later years.
2. Decreased physical activity and increased sedentary behaviors over six years were associated with lower quality of life scores.
3. The study suggests a causal link between staying physically active and improving quality of life, with physical activity helping to reduce pain, improve muscle strength and improve mental health.

Source: University of Cambridge

A reduction in time spent physically active when adults are over sixty is linked to a lower quality of life, a Cambridge study of nearly 1,500 adults showed.

The same is true for increased time spent in sedentary time, such as watching TV or reading. The researchers say this highlights the need to encourage older people to stay active.

Physical activity – especially when of moderate intensity and increases your heart rate – is known to reduce the risk of several diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.

The NHS recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week.

It is also recommended that older people break up prolonged periods of sedentary time with light activity when physically possible, or at least by standing, as this has distinct health benefits for older people.

A team led by researchers from the University of Cambridge examined the activity levels of 1,433 participants aged 60 and over using accelerometers. The participants had been recruited for the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer)-Norfolk study.

Alongside this, the team also looked at health-related quality of life, a measure of health and well-being that includes pain, ability to care for oneself, and anxiety/mood. Participants were given a score between 0 (worst quality of life) and 1 (best) based on their answers to a questionnaire.

Lower quality of life scores are linked to an increased risk of hospitalization, poorer outcomes after hospitalization, and early death.

Participants were followed up on average just under six years later to examine changes in their behavior and quality of life.

The results of the study are published in Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.

On average, six years after their first assessment, men and women were getting about 24 minutes less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day.

At the same time, total sedentary time increased by an average of about 33 minutes per day for men and about 38 minutes per day for women.

People who engaged in more moderate to vigorous physical activity and spent less sedentary time when first assessed had better quality of life thereafter. One hour per day spent more active was associated with a higher quality of life score of 0.02.

For every minute per day of less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity measured six years after the first assessment, quality of life scores fell by 0.03. This means that an individual who devoted 15 minutes less per day to such an activity would have seen his score drop by 0.45.

Increased sedentary behaviors were also associated with poorer quality of life – a drop in score of 0.012 for every minute per day increase in total sedentary time six years after the first measurement.

This means that an individual who spent 15 minutes more sitting per day would have seen their score drop by 0.18.

To put the results in a clinical context, a 0.1 point improvement in quality of life scores was previously associated with a 6.9% reduction in early death and a 4.2% reduction in risk of hospitalization.

Dr Dharani Yerrakalva from the University of Cambridge’s Department of Public Health and Primary Care said: ‘Keeping active and limiting – and where you can, breaking up – the time you spend sitting is really important no matter what. stage of life you are at.

“This appears to be particularly important later in life, as it can lead to potentially significant improvements in your quality of life and your physical and mental well-being.”

Because the team measured physical activity and sedentary behavior at different time points, they say they can be reasonably confident they showed a causal link – that is, quality of life improves because people stay more physically active, for example.

Dr Yerrakalva added: “There are several ways in which improving our physical behaviors could help maintain a better quality of life.

“For example, more physical activity reduces pain in common conditions such as osteoarthritis, and we know that being more physically active improves muscle strength, which allows older people to continue to take care of themselves. themselves.

“Similarly, depression and anxiety are linked to quality of life and can be improved by being more active and less sedentary.”

The EPIC-Norfolk study is funded by the Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK.

Five ways to stay physically active in old age

• A brisk daily walk – ideally for around 20 minutes
• Gardening
• A bike ride
• Dancing
• Tennis

About this aging and exercise research news

Author: Craig Brierley
Source: University of Cambridge
Contact: Craig Brierley – University of Cambridge
Picture: Image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original research: Free access.
“Associations between change in physical activity and sedentary time and health-related quality of life in older English adults: the EPIC-Norfolk cohort study” by Dharani Yerrakalva et al. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Abstract

Associations between change in physical activity and sedentary time and health-related quality of life in older English adults: the EPIC-Norfolk cohort study

Background

No previous studies have examined associations between changes in objectively measured physical behaviors and follow-up quality of life in older adults. Based on cross-sectional evidence, it is biologically plausible that such associations exist. If so, this strengthens the case for commissioning activity interventions and including quality of life as an outcome in trials of such interventions.

Methods

We assessed physical behaviors (total physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity, total sedentary time, and prolonged sedentary time) for 7 days using hip-worn accelerometers at baseline. (2006-2011) and follow-up (2012-2016) and health-related quality of life (QoL) using EQ-5D questionnaires during follow-up of 1433 study participants (≥60 years old) EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer)-Norfolk. The EQ-5D summary score was used, with 0 as the worst quality of life to 1 as the best perceived quality of life. We assessed prospective associations of baseline physical behaviors with follow-up quality of life and behavioral changes with follow-up quality of life using multilevel regression.

Results

On average, MVPA decreased by 4.0 min/day/year (SD 8.3) for men and 4.0 min/day/year for women (SD 12.0) between baseline and follow up. Total sedentary time increased by an average of 5.5 min/day/year (SD 16.0) for men and 6.4 min/day/year (SD 15.0) for women between baseline and the follow-up. The mean (SD) follow-up time was 5.8 (1.8) years.

We found that higher baseline MVPA and lower sedentary time were associated with higher later quality of life (e.g., higher baseline MVPA of 1 h/day was associated with higher EQ-5D score of 0.02, 95% CI 0.06, 0.36). More pronounced declines in activity were associated with worse Hr-QoL (0.005 (95% CI 0.003, 0.008) lower EQ-5D per minute/day/year of decrease in MVPA). Increased sedentary behaviors were also associated with lower quality of life (0.002 lower EQ-5D, 95% CI -0.003, -0.0007 per hour/day/year increase in total sedentary time).

conclusion

Promoting physical activity and limiting sedentary time in older adults can improve quality of life, and therefore, this relationship should be included in future cost-benefit analyzes so that greater commissioning of activity interventions can be considered.