Social and physical activity keeps elders sprightly
The findings of a new study from the US have furthered the belief that physical and mental stimulation will keep people more youthful as they ageContrastingly, those older people who don't take part in physical activity and social events increase their risk of declining motor function, say researchers from Rush University Medical Centre.
Lead researcher, Dr Aron Buchman, an associate professor in the department of neurological sciences said, 'A broader range of activities in elders, including physical, social and cognitive activities, may slow the rate of age-related decline. Less frequent participation in social activity was associated with a more rapid rate of motor decline'.
Buchman and his fellow researchers collated data from 906 older adults who participated in the Rush Memory and Aging Project between 1997 and 2008. The researchers measured assorted motor functions over a five-year period. These included gauging participants' grip and pinch strength; their ability to stand on one leg as well as on their toes; their ability to walk in line in a heel-to-toe manner; the speed with which they could place pegs on a board, and how many times they could tap their index-finger in a 10-second period.
The frequency of their social activities, including eating out, visiting family and friends and participation in a religious or charitable community was also rated using a five-point scale.
The results showed a correlation between infrequent social activity and increased rate of motor function decline. Researchers noted a 33 per cent faster rate of decline in motor function for every point decrease in social activity. They worked out that a one-point decrease on the social activity scale equated to being approximately five years older at the study's onset.
Put simply, those with less social interaction appeared physically and mentally older. The decline in motor function was also linked with a 65 per cent increased risk of developing disability and more than 40 per cent increased risk of death, prompting Buchman to say , 'Social engagement may slow the rate of age-related motor decline'.
The findings also held up to scrutiny after factors including disability, global cognition depressive symptoms, late-life physical and cognitive activity, body composition and chronic medical conditions, were taken into account.
CEO of the International Council on Active Aging in Vancouver, Colin Milner, was not surprised by the findings, and commented candidly about his personal experience with social and physical engagement and ageing; 'Inherently we know that being social is important in life and good, but a lot of times we don't relate it to physical health. My dad is 77, he doesn't get out, he just sits around all day. He retired two years ago and probably lost his purpose for life. He has just literally declined and aged in front of me, and now looks as old as my grandfather does at 98. He was vibrant, now his skin colour has changed, just everything has changed' Milner said.
He went on; 'We are social beings. If you are socially engaged, you are out and about and getting some movement. Friends are good, being involved in social activities is good. If you are engaged in life, you are engaged in all the things that keep you healthy'.
Source: Archives of Internal Medicine
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