A recent study published in PLOS ONE highlights the sedentary lifestyle and low physical activity levels among nonagenarians in their 90s. Led by Sari Aaltonen, Ph.D., from the University of Helsinki, the research aimed to understand the association between accelerometer-measured physical activity and various characteristics such as self-reported physical activity, health, cognitive abilities, and sociodemographic factors.

The study involved 38 nonagenarians who wore accelerometers during their waking hours for seven days. The results showed that, on average, participants took around 2,931 steps daily, engaged in 11 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and spent approximately 13.6 hours in sedentary behavior. The most common patterns observed were physical activity bouts lasting less than three minutes daily and sedentary bouts lasting between 20 and 60 minutes daily.

The researchers found positive correlations between accelerometer-measured physical activity and self-reported physical activity characteristics. Additionally, low levels of accelerometer-measured physical activity were associated with low education, dizziness, and fear of falling. Fear of falling also correlated with accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior characteristics.

One significant finding was that most accelerometer-measured physical activity characteristics aligned with self-reported physical activity, indicating the usability of self-reported data in everyday settings. The authors suggest that more extensive studies, including longitudinal aspects, could provide further insights into the factors influencing physical and mental health in this understudied population segment.

In conclusion, the study sheds light on the sedentary lifestyle and low physical activity levels among nonagenarians. The findings emphasize the importance of understanding the factors contributing to physical activity in this age group. By identifying associations between accelerometer-measured physical activity and various characteristics, the study provides valuable insights for promoting healthy aging and improving the well-being of older adults.

References

• Aaltonen, S., Urjansson, M., Varjonen, A., Vähä-Ypyä, H., Iso-Markku, P., Kaartinen, S., Vasankari, T., Kujala, U. M., Silventoinen, K., Kaprio, J., & Vuoksimaa, E. (2023). Accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary behavior in nonagenarians: Associations with self-reported physical activity, anthropometric, sociodemographic, health and cognitive characteristics. PLOS ONE, 18(12), e0294817. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294817
• Gotkine, E. (2023, December 7). Study suggests nonagenarians are mostly sedentary, with low physical activity. MedicalXpress; MedicalXpress. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-12-nonagenarians-sedentary-physical.html