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 .
Walking and dementia in physically capable elderly men.
CONTEXT Evidence suggests that physical activity may be related to the clinical expression of dementia . Whether the association includes low-intensity activity such as walking is not known . OBJECTIVE To examine the association between walking and future risk of dementia in older men . DESIGN Prospect i ve cohort study . SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Distance walked per day was assessed from 1991 to 1993 in 2257 physically capable men aged 71 to 93 years in the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study . Follow-up for incident dementia was based on neurological assessment at 2 repeat examinations ( 1994 - 1996 and 1997 - 1999 ) . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Overall dementia , Alzheimer disease , and vascular dementia . RESULTS During the course of follow-up , 158 cases of dementia were identified ( 15.6/1000 person-years ) . After adjusting for age , men who walked the least ( < 0.25 mile/d ) experienced a 1.8-fold excess risk of dementia compared with those who walked more than 2 mile/d ( 17.8 vs 10.3/1000 person-years ; relative hazard [ RH ] , 1.77 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 1.04 - 3.01 ) . Compared with men who walked the most ( > 2 mile/d ) , an excess risk of dementia was also observed in those who walked 0.25 to 1 mile/d ( 17.6 vs 10.3/1000 person-years ; RH , 1.71 ; 95 % CI , 1.02 - 2.86 ) . These associations persisted after accounting for other factors , including the possibility that limited amounts of walking could be the result of a decline in physical function due to pre clinical dementia . CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that walking is associated with a reduced risk of dementia . Promoting active lifestyles in physically capable men could help late-life cognitive function
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 .