Anti-Aging Habits Helps to Reduce Disability

A number of aging-related conditions may originate with modifiable lifestyle choices and health behaviors.  Lois G. Kim, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (United Kingdom), and colleagues studied data collected from over 2500 British women, ages 60 to 79 years, who were surveyed on aspects of their lifestyle and health habits, as a part of the British Women's Heart and Health Study. The study found that women who never exercised were nearly twice as likely to get arthritis, and were at double the risk of developing difficulties walking; as well, they were more likely to develop heart disease. Women who smoke currently or in the past also develop heart disease at more than twice the rate of those who had never smoked. The study authors observe that: "never smokers and regular exercisers had substantially reduced odds of 7-year disability onset."