Study Proves Runners Live Better, Longer

Turns out there’s more to a runner’s high than just feeling great – it can also make you live longer. Time Magazine is reporting that runners who continue to jog over the years live longer, are healthier, and have a reduced chance of being affected by a disability.

A study published by Archives of Internal Medicine, tracked two groups of people divided into two categories – “never-runners” and “ever-runners” – for two decades. Everyone involved in the study was at least 50 years old when it began and lived similar lifestyles, had similar physical characteristics like weight, and were demographically matched. The only real difference in the two groups was the amount of exercise they got and whether or not they ran.

The findings, that the ever-runners were significantly healthier, wasn’t much of a surprise…

Over the years, compared with the never-exercisers, people who exercised regularly — in addition to running, activities included biking, aerobic dance and swimming — showed improved aerobic capacity, better cardiovascular fitness, increased bone mass, fewer inflammatory markers, less physical disability, better response to vaccinations and even improved thinking, learning and memory. They also lived significantly longer.

However, what did surprise researchers was that the benefits, like survival and disability rates, persisted as the two groups got older…

Not only did fewer runners die of cardiovascular causes, but fewer died of other causes such as neurological and infectious disorders. (15% of runners had died after 19 years compared to 34% of non-runners.) At 21 years into the study, the authors reported, the running group experienced fewer disabilities in eight basic daily functions, including walking, eating, dressing, grip strength and routine physical activities — reporting, on average, one mild disability out of the eight.

The study showed that other forms of vigorous aerobic exercise were equally as beneficial. And that even a little exercise is better than none. Just one more reason to continue, or begin, a solid exercise regimen.

For you runners out there who are worried about your knees: the study also found no difference in the joint structure of avid, long-term runners between the two groups (which is great news if you’re a runner worried about the future of your joints). So keep on running!