Greater physical activity of an aerobic nature ( categorized by a variety of methods ) was associated with higher functional status ( expressed by a host of outcome measures ) in older age .
For functional independence , moderate ( and high ) levels of physical activity appeared effective in conferring a reduced risk ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) of functional limitations or disability .
Limitation in higher level performance outcomes was reduced ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) with vigorous ( or high ) activity with an apparent dose-response of moderate through to high activity .
Exercise training interventions ( including aerobic and resistance ) of older adults showed improvement in physiological and functional measures , and suggestion of longer-term reduction in incidence of mobility disability .
A relatively high level of physical activity was related to better cognitive function and reduced risk of developing dementia ; however , there were mixed results of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive function indices .
Conclusions There is a consistency of findings across studies and a range of outcome measures related to functional independence ; regular aerobic activity and short-term exercise programmes confer a reduced risk of functional limitations and disability in older age .
Although a precise characterization of a minimal or effective physical activity dose to maintain functional independence is difficult , it appears moderate to higher levels of activity are effective and there may be a threshold of at least moderate activity for significant outcomes
Background The purpose was to conduct systematic review s of the relationship between physical activity of healthy community-dwelling older ( > 65 years ) adults and outcomes of  functional limitations , disability , or loss of independence .
Physical activity is associated with incident disability in community-based older persons.
OBJECTIVES To examine the association between physical activity and the risk of incident disability , including impairment in activities of daily living ( ADLs ) and instrumental activities of daily living ( IADLs ) , in community-based older persons free of dementia . DESIGN Prospect i ve , observational cohort study . SETTING Approximately 40 retirement communities across the Chicago metropolitan area . PARTICIPANTS More than 1,000 older persons from the Rush Memory and Aging Project , an ongoing longitudinal clinical -pathological study of common chronic conditions of old age . MEASUREMENTS All participants underwent detailed annual clinical evaluations that included assessment s of  physical activity , ADLs , IADLs , and gait performance . The associations between  physical activity , mortality , and incident disability were examined using a series of Cox proportional hazards models controlled for age , sex , education , and baseline gait . RESULTS At baseline , participants spent a mean+/-st and ard deviation of 3.0+/-3.5 hours per week engaging in physical activity ( range 0 - 35 ) . In a proportional hazards model , the risk of death decreased 11 % ( hazard ratio (HR)=0.89 , 95 % confidence interval (CI)=0.83 - 0.95 ) for each additional hour of physical activity per week . For those who were not disabled at baseline , the risk of developing disability in ADLs decreased 7 % ( HR=0.93 , 95 % CI=0.88 - 0.98 ) for each additional hour of physical activity per week . Similarly , the risk of disability in IADLs decreased 7 % ( HR=0.93 , 95 % CI=0.89 - 0.99 ) for each additional hour of physical activity . CONCLUSION For community-based older persons without dementia , physical activity is associated with maintenance of functional status , including a reduced risk of developing impairment in ADLs and IADLs
Greater physical activity of an aerobic nature ( categorized by a variety of methods ) was associated with higher functional status ( expressed by a host of outcome measures ) in older age .
For functional independence , moderate ( and high ) levels of physical activity appeared effective in conferring a reduced risk ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) of functional limitations or disability .
Limitation in higher level performance outcomes was reduced ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) with vigorous ( or high ) activity with an apparent dose-response of moderate through to high activity .
Exercise training interventions ( including aerobic and resistance ) of older adults showed improvement in physiological and functional measures , and suggestion of longer-term reduction in incidence of mobility disability .
A relatively high level of physical activity was related to better cognitive function and reduced risk of developing dementia ; however , there were mixed results of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive function indices .
Conclusions There is a consistency of findings across studies and a range of outcome measures related to functional independence ; regular aerobic activity and short-term exercise programmes confer a reduced risk of functional limitations and disability in older age .
Although a precise characterization of a minimal or effective physical activity dose to maintain functional independence is difficult , it appears moderate to higher levels of activity are effective and there may be a threshold of at least moderate activity for significant outcomes
Background The purpose was to conduct systematic review s of the relationship between physical activity of healthy community-dwelling older ( > 65 years ) adults and outcomes of  functional limitations , disability , or loss of independence .