Invest Just 10 Minutes a Day to Extend Your Life

As we age, our sitting time tends to increase while our physical activity tends to decrease. Researchers from South Korea have found a correlation between one hour of walking per week and increased longevity for those aged 85 and older.

"Older adults tend to stand less as they age. Our study demonstrates that walking for at least one hour each week is beneficial for people 85 years and older. In other words, walking for 10 minutes every day," explains Dr. Mo-Yeon Jin, the study's author from Sangkyung Paik Hospital at Inje University.

The study shows a strong link between walking and longevity in seniors over age 85. The research team gathered over 7,000 older adults who participated in the national health survey program between 2009 and 2014.

Participants reported details regarding their physical activities during leisure time, including slow walking, cycling, brisk walking, and running.

"Keep Walking Through Life"

The study aimed to examine the link between walking, cardiovascular disease mortality, and all-cause mortality in relation to moderate to vigorous physical activity performed by the elderly. It was found that those who walked at least one hour a week had a 39% lower risk of death.

Dr. Jin concludes the research findings: "Walking was associated with a lower likelihood of death among older adults, regardless of whether they engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity. Identifying the minimum amount of physical activity that can benefit the oldest old is an important goal as recommended activity levels may be hard to achieve. Our study suggests that walking even one hour per week is advantageous for those 85 and older compared to complete inactivity. Our message is, keep walking throughout life."

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