Autumn exercise made simple.

• Position: Seniors

AS THE WEATHER turns and leaves begin to fall, research from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., shows that older citizens are well served to get up and grab a rake themselves, as there is a strong connection among seniors, exercise, and mental and physical health, especially aging women.

"We've known that regular exercise translates to serious health benefits for seniors for years, but connections of this magnitude are incredible," says Peter Ross, CEO of Senior Helpers, St. Louis, Mo., an in-home care company. "It's vital to keep mom and dad up and moving as they age, and this is further evidence that proves just how important even the most moderate of exercise efforts can really be."

The Harvard research found:

* Women who exercise regularly (categorized as walking briskly five to six hours per week) at age 60 are almost twice as likely to live beyond 70 with no cognitive, physical, or mental health limitations.

* Females age 65-75 who participate in low-level strength training exercises show significantly improved executive function (high-order thought processes involved in decisionmaking) and improved physical walking speed (a leading predictor of fall and fracture risk).

* Individuals over 55 who exercise at a moderate level or higher (about three times per week) are half as likely to develop dementia later in life compared to those who do not exercise regularly.

* Women, age 70 and up, with mild cognitive impairments (MCI, a common precursor to dementia) who engage in aerobic exercise four times per week showed significant improvements in all administered cognitive and physiological tests over a six-month trial.

"The successes found by these researchers in improving mental function and physical...