for patricia baker, 81, and dennis baker, 85, the program gave them another outlet for keeping up with an active lifestyle they’ve enjoyed throughout their lives. their lived experience captures much of what the experts above cited. the social element of the community group, for example, keeps them coming back — just as lieberman suggested.
“you get there early enough to put on your gym clothes and then talk to people,” dennis said.
the couple also keeps up to date with the latest research, including attending talks at mcmaster when they can, which informs their motivations for staying fit. patricia cited research that shows regular exercise can reduce the
risk of developing dementia by 30 percent
.
“the mental benefits are absolutely, to me, crucial. it keeps us going on so many levels,” she said.
as a result, they’re both in remarkably good shape. their doctors give them top marks, they still live in their home with all four flights of stairs in it, and they take their neighbour’s dog on daily walks.
if, after reading this far, you’re starting to feel particularly concerned about your lack of activity, don’t panic. exercise science has yet another piece of good news about the benefits of physical activity: it’s never too late to start. studies have found that
people who waited to middle age
to start exercising were still more likely to live longer than those who never exercised, and when older adults start working out for the first time,
they’re just as likely as lifelong athletes
to build muscle.