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Runners Live Longer: Study

Health benefits extend into runners' 90s

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 12, 2008 3:52 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Runners live longer and age more slowly than non-runners, a new study has found. Researchers tracked hundreds of older people for decades and discovered those who ran regularly remained active later into old age and were less likely to develop disabilities. Twenty years into the study 34% of the non-runners had died, compared to just 16% of the runners. 

Runners continued to outpace non-runners in health benefits even into their 90s, the researchers found. The runners had much healthier hearts and were also less likely to die from cancer, infections or neurological disease. "If you had to pick one thing to make people healthier as they age, it would be aerobic exercise," said the author of the study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

A jogger runs along the Stanley Park seawall in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday July 5, 2008.
A jogger runs along the Stanley Park seawall in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday July 5, 2008.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
Runners wave and dance before the start of the 'GutsMuths Rennsteiglauf' marathon, one of Europe's most popular cross-country races, in Neuhaus/Rennweg, eastern Germany, Saturday, May 17, 2008.
Runners wave and dance before the start of the 'GutsMuths Rennsteiglauf' marathon, one of Europe's most popular cross-country races, in Neuhaus/Rennweg, eastern Germany, Saturday, May 17, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
A pack of runners race in the Men's 1,500m run heat at the World Athletics Championships Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007 in Osaka, Japan.
A pack of runners race in the Men's 1,500m run heat at the World Athletics Championships Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007 in Osaka, Japan.   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
Runners cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at the start of the ING New York City Marathon Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007 in New York.
Runners cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at the start of the ING New York City Marathon Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007 in New York.   (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
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Abstract of the journal article
Archives of Internal Medicine

Study finds aging process can be outrun
CTV

Some tips for older runners
About.com

 
elderly • aging • exercise • running • runner • health study • healthy living

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