[Impact of health practices on changes in the physical and mental well-being of older adults]

Abstract

Previous studies on young and middle-aged adults have demonstrated a correlation between certain personal health practices and reduced mortality. However, we have little knowledge to what extent the findings can be generalized to older adults. Our purpose was to investigate the impact of health practices on subsequent changes in the physical and mental well-being of the elderly. We used longitudinal data of a national representative sample of 2,200 older adults aged 60 and over at baseline. This six-year prospective study examined the associations of six items related to personal health habits--cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, physical exercise, eating breakfast, hours of sleep, and relative weight--with subsequent health status change. Not smoking was the only health practice that achieved a statistically significant relationship with the reduction of future mortality risk. Obesity (20% or more overweight) was a risk factor for the subsequent impairment in activities of daily living. Those who reported a high frequency of exercise and sleeping 7 or 8 hours per night at baseline were less likely to show decreases in their levels of mental well-being. These results suggest that not smoking, weight control, physical exercise, and sleep patterns may have an important role in maintaining physical and mental well-being in older adults.