Researchers set out to see if runner live longer and if they are plagued with as much disability as non-runners. We’ve provided a synopsis of what they did, and found, below. The link to the actual study can be found here.
Here’s What the Study Said About Runners Living Longer and Becoming Disabled
Background
Exercise helps people of all ages stay healthy. We need more studies on older adults to see how exercise affects disability and lifespan. This article looks at the long-term health benefits of running for older adults.
Methods
In 1984, researchers started a study with 538 runners and 423 healthy non-runners. All participants were 50 years old or older. Each year, they filled out surveys about their exercise habits, body weight, and any disabilities. Researchers used the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) to measure disability. The HAQ-DI scores range from 0 (no difficulty) to 3 (unable to perform tasks). The study lasted until 2005. Researchers also checked death records up to 2003. By the end of the study, 284 runners and 156 non-runners had finished the 21-year follow-up.
Results
At the start, runners were younger, thinner, and smoked less than non-runners. Throughout the study, non-runners had higher HAQ-DI scores, meaning they had more disabilities. Both groups got more disabled with age, but runners did so more slowly. The average HAQ-DI score for runners increased to 0.17, while for non-runners, it increased to 0.36. This difference was significant (P < .001).
Runners had a lower risk of reaching a HAQ-DI score of 0.5 (hazard ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.84). After 19 years, 15% of runners had died compared to 34% of non-runners. Even after adjusting for other factors, runners still showed a survival benefit (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.45-0.82). The gap in disability and survival rates between runners and non-runners grew even larger as participants got older.
Conclusion
This study shows that running helps reduce disability and increase lifespan in older adults. In short, runners live longer. Also, runners become disabled more slowly than non-runners. Running is a great way to stay healthy and live longer.