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Using a Real-Time Locating System to Measure Walking Activity Associated with Wandering Behaviors Among Institutionalized Older Adults
Published on: February 8, 2019
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Relationships between changes in time spent walking since middle age and incident functional disability
Wan-Ting Chou1, Yasutake Tomata1, Takashi Watanabe1
1Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
Preventive Medicine
|December 3, 2013
Summary
Increasing walking time in middle age significantly lowers the risk of developing functional disability later in life. Staying active or becoming active reduces the likelihood of needing long-term care.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Functional disability is a growing concern in aging populations.
- Maintaining physical activity is crucial for healthy aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between changes in walking time from middle age and the risk of incident functional disability in older adults.
- To determine if increasing or maintaining walking habits impacts future disability.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 7177 Japanese individuals aged ≥65 years.
- Participants categorized based on changes in walking time between 1994 and 2006.
- Incident functional disability assessed via Long-term Care Insurance database over 5 years; Cox proportional hazards model used.
Main Results:
- Compared to sedentary individuals, those who became active had a 31% lower risk (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49-0.98).
- Individuals who remained active showed a 36% lower risk (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.50-0.82).
- These associations remained consistent across gender, age, and motor function strata.
Conclusions:
- Increasing walking time in previously sedentary adults is linked to a reduced risk of functional disability.
- Maintaining an active walking routine is associated with sustained lower disability risk.
- Promoting walking habits may be a key strategy for preventing functional decline in older populations.
