ElderWeb

In a review of 32 studies of activity and mood among the elderly, investigators found that regular exercise, particularly strength training, boosted study participants' moods. The results were remarkably consistent across the studies, according to a report in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, in research led by Shawn M. Arent of Arizona State University in Tempe. Researchers found that the combination of aerobic exercise and strength training elevated mood to a greater extent than did aerobic exercise alone. The authors note that there is much to be learned about the optimal intensity, frequency and duration of strengthening exercises for the elderly, particularly those in poorer health. The combination of aerobics and strength training may be the most beneficial activity plan for the elderly, but researchers note that research in this area is "severely lacking."

A study by the Imperial Cancer Research Fund shows that older women in Britain are more likely than younger ones to exercise. Their study showed that women over age 65 exercised about twice as often as women age 25-34. Nearly half of the older women exercised daily, compared with only about one quarter of younger women. The most often cited reason for failing to exercise was a lack of time.