Fountain of youth may be regular exercise

NORWICH, England, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Apart from not smoking, being physically active is the most powerful lifestyle choice a person can make to slow down aging, a British researcher says.

After reviewing 40 papers published internationally from 2006 to 2010, Leslie Alford of the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, concludes regular exercise slows down how quickly the body deteriorates with age and reduces a large number of health risks -- about two dozen physical and mental health conditions, including dementia.

"The literature reviewed shows that how long people live and how healthy they are depends on a complex mix of factors, including their lifestyle, where they live and even luck" Alford says in a statement. "Individuals have an element of control over some of these factors, including obesity, diet, smoking and physical activity. Although the focus of my study was on men's health, the messages on physical activity are relevant to both sexes and all age groups."

The study, published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, finds exercise reduces risks of coronary heart disease and stroke, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, depression, obesity, high-blood pressure, death from cancer and erectile dysfunction.