ABSTRACT
Research on physical activity and its relation to physiologic aging remains very active today. Exercise facilitatesmaintenance of sound cardiovascular function and lessens many risk factors associated with heart disease, diabetes, insulin resistance, and some cancers (1). In addition, other losses associated with aging and once thought to be inevitable (e.g., loss of muscle mass and strength, of bone density, and of postural stability) can be effectively counteracted through regular exercise (1). Concurrent psychological benefits of exercise include preservation of cognitive function and self-sufficiency as well as reduced episodes of depression. A regular program of physical activity, therefore, is extremely beneficial, whether one begins early in life, in adulthood or after 60; indeed, the consequences of inactivity are being increasingly chronicled (Chapter 3). A powerful endorsement of the role of physical exercise in promoting a healthy life spanwas provided by the 1996 Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health (1).
