Exercise does make a difference - even later inlife

Exercise makes a difference to health - more is better - less is worse - but it takes time to have an impact. We've all known this but at last a 35 year long (and still going strong) study from Uppsala, Sweden has proved it - finally.

I blog'd a few weeks ago about people, mainly men, who'd been laid off after decades in the same job, flocking to the gym and working out for hours, several times a week. You might be tempted to think "Too late to make a difference" but as it turns out "Not true." 

The study started to 1970 when all the men aged 50 years in Uppsala, Sweden were contacted to invite them to participate in this research. 2200 men said yes - over 80% of the men living in the area at the time. Why  were only men invited is not clear and is a weakness in the study. Do the results apply to women. Probably but likely with some gender twists.  The study has published every few years since then:

• list of all their publications
• the original at 50 years of age Uppsala Prevention Study
• the study when the participants were 82 years old

The investigations include anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, blood and urine sampling, bone density measurement by whole body DXA, ECG examination, tests of cognitive function, questionnaire, and a dietary investigation.

Long may it continue. It contrasts with what I said about this 4 week study on exercise and antioxidant supplements.

I also blog'd months ago about the long-term could health results of running.

• the active live longer and better than the inactive (no great surprise here but the Swedes quantify the extent)
• changes in exercise level ( up and down) take 5 to 10 years to show up in health and mortality. It's no surprise to learn that these things take effect slowly but this research shows pinpoints it to the range 5 to 10 years.
• if you've been inactive all your life and then start to exercise seriously then within 10 years (maybe even after 5 years) your health and mortality is as good as those who have been active all their life. Sad news for the always active but great news for those who's work has stopped them looking after their health and wellness.
• in the other direction, if you have been active but then join the couch potatoes, your health and mortality sinks after maybe 5 years (and at most 10 years) your risk is the same as those who have always laid back and taken life easy.

What the research did not show was exactly how hard and how much you had to workout to make a difference. This research sets the bar at 3 hours a week of exercise and is not too specific about how hard the exercise has to be to pay health dividends.

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I blog'd months ago about the positive impact that running has on health.

Of course, you might have forgotten, brains get bigger with aerobic exercise - no kidding.