Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Aging Populations

Physical activity is recognised as a cornerstone of healthy ageing, exerting profound effects on both physical and mental well-being in older adults. Regular engagement in moderate to vigorous exercise, as well as routine household and leisure activities, has been linked to preserved muscle strength, balance and cardiovascular function, thereby reducing the risk of frailty and functional decline. Beyond physical domains, sustained activity contributes to emotional resilience, attenuates symptoms of depression and fosters social engagement, all of which underpin a multidimensional conception of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Evidence suggests a dose–response relationship, with higher activity levels yielding greater gains in perceived physical functioning and vitality. Importantly, the timing and consistency of activity across mid and later life appear critical: adopting guideline-recommended levels by mid-fifties may confer lasting benefits. Practical approaches ranging from community exercise programmes to structured household tasks can be tailored to individual capacity and cultural context, offering scalable interventions that address the global challenge of population ageing.

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Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Aging Populations publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in physical activity and quality of life in aging populations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL): A multidimensional construct reflecting an individual’s perceived physical, mental and social health status over time.

SF-36: A 36-item questionnaire assessing eight domains of health-related quality of life, including physical functioning and emotional well-being.

Target trial emulation: A methodological framework that uses observational data to mimic the design and causal inference of a randomised controlled trial.

Marginal structural models: A statistical approach that adjusts for time-varying confounders to estimate causal effects in longitudinal studies.

Metabolic equivalent (MET): A unit estimating the energy cost of physical activities as multiples of resting metabolic rate, facilitating comparisons across exercise intensities.

References

1. Physical activity across midlife and health-related quality of life in Australian women: A target trial emulation using a longitudinal cohort. PLOS Medicine (2024).
2. Physical activity and health-related quality of life in older adults: depression as a mediator. BMC Geriatrics (2024).
3. Accelerometer-Based Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Korean Adults: Observational Study Using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. JMIR Human Factors (2024).