As we get older, we might start to slow up. But we need to keep moving, even when we reach our eighties, researchers say.
Octogenarians should be walking for around 10 minutes day, or an hour or so a week, which can help add a few extra years to their life, researchers from the Inje University Sanggye Pail Hospital in Korea estimate.
A little walk every day could reduce their chances of dying from a chronic health problem, such as heart disease and cancer, by as much as 40 percent.
The researchers analysed the activity levels of over 7000 people who were 85 or older, and discovered that walking, even at a slow pace, had the biggest beneficial impact on longterm health and longevity. Interestingly, it was the single most important exercise the elderly could do, and even had greater benefits than activities that were more intense, such as running or cycling.
As for the rest of us, we should be aiming for at least double that amount of exercise every week, around 150 hours of moderate-intensity activity.
Proceedings of the European Society of Cardiology Congress, August 2022
