Can you tell how long you’ll live? For seniors, how fit you are may offer a clearer forecast of life span than traditional markers such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking, a new study suggests. It included more than 6,500 people, age 70 and older, who had an exercise stress test between…

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For seniors who often find themselves in the ER, complications from diabetes is the most common culprit, new research shows. Not only that, these chronically ill patients remain in the hospital longer and require more treatment and resources, noted the authors of the study. It was published in the Jan. 28 issue of the Annals…

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Staying active in old age may help preserve your memory and thinking skills, a new study suggests. In fact, older people who were physically active kept their minds sharp, even if their brains showed signs of lesions or other markers linked to Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, researchers found. “Physical activity may provide cognitive reserve”…

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When are you planning to get old? According to a recent study, you’d better move the date back. “Contrary to common belief, many people can live well into their 90s without becoming cognitively impaired, study findings indicate.” – Neurology 2003; 60: 477-480 But statistics are statistics. Let me give you some examples from my own…

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The better the weather, the more seniors venture out and get active. So say researchers who assessed the activity levels of more than 1,200 adults in Norway, aged 70 to 77, who were grouped based on whether they scored low, medium or high on a fitness test. “Older people in poor physical condition become less…

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The better the weather, the more seniors venture out and get active. So say researchers who assessed the activity levels of more than 1,200 adults in Norway, aged 70 to 77, who were grouped based on whether they scored low, medium or high on a fitness test. “Older people in poor physical condition become less…

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One in four Americans 65 and older falls each year, with some ending up in hospitals or even dying. But new research suggests that it’s possible to avoid some of these serious injuries. When seniors who are at risk of falling have a prevention plan, they’re less likely to suffer a tumble-related hospitalization, the study…

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If you’re in your early 60s, becoming more active may reduce your risk of heart disease, researchers report. That’s especially true for women, they added. “The 60 to 64 age range represents an important transition between work and retirement, when lifestyle behaviors tend to change. It may, therefore, be an opportunity to promote increased physical…

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A pair of new studies points towards two potential paths to the fountain of youth. When older adults feel more control of their lives and get more exercise, they feel younger — and that improves their thinking, overall quality of life and longevity, the studies say. One study included 116 older adults (ages 60 to…

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Continually progressing keeps exercise interesting and further increases your fitness level. Here are five fun ideas to keep challenging yourself. Identify an area of weakness, like a muscle group you want to tone or a fitness skill you’d like to have. You might assess your level of each of the key components of fitness —…

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