Physical activity and exercise are fundamental to healthy aging. Regular physical activity improves quality of life, including a person's feeling of wellbeing and physical function, and reduces overall cardiovascular mortality risk. Patients who engage in activities that burn more than 1,000 calories per week have a 30% reduction in overall mortality. Physical activity also reduces cancer risk, risk for falls, anxiety and depression. Physical activity is one of the top interventions to reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment and improve cognition in patients already diagnosed with dementia. Regular physical exercise improves muscle mass, increases the synthesis of collagen in ligaments and tendons, improves mitochondrial function and preserves and improves bone mass. Exercise along with balance and strength training reduces the risk of falls, fall-related injuries and fear of falling. Regular exercise with good nutrition seems to reduce frailty by reducing age-related oxidative damage and inflammation, improving mitochondrial function and myokine profile, improving insulin sensitivity and increasing muscle protein synthesis. Clearly, the benefits of physical activity are many. However, data from the CDC indicates that physical inactivity increases with age. More than 1 in 4 (26.9%) older adults aged 65 to 74, and more than 1 in 3 (35.3%) of older adults aged 75 and older self-report as being physically inactive. Key barriers to exercise as identified by patients have included a lack of belief in one's capabilities to perform exercises, environmental factors and a lack of support from their social areas of influence, as well as a lack of guidance from health care providers. Key motivators to exercise were peer encouragement, having fun, social interactions involving physical activities and support from health care providers.
