Get moving

Not only is regular exercise late in life good for the body, but it also keeps the mind sharp, making it easier to remember to take pills, follow directions and do other tasks. The key, however, is sticking with the program, say Ohio State University researchers. Study participants who exercised for a time but eventually stopped lost the benefits they gained, says Terrie Wetle, PhD, president of the Gerontological Society of America, deputy director of the National Institute on Aging. “We can get people to exercise,” Wetle says. “The biggest challenge is to get them to stick with it.” Just like everybody else.