A seven-year study of 13,423 adults aged 65 and older in Taiwan found that those in the top 20% of overall fitness had a 61% lower risk of death from any cause than those in the bottom 20%.
Researchers at NYCU conducted the study in collaboration with colleagues from Chung Yuan Christian University, National Taiwan University of Sport and several other academic institutions. The study, titled “Physical Fitness and All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults,” was published on August 10 in JAMA Network.
The association remained significant after the researchers accounted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, physical activity, body mass index and chronic health conditions. The findings suggest that healthy aging depends not only on preventing disease but also on maintaining strength, balance and mobility.
