It is not just diet and exercise that would guarantee a longer healthy life expectancy. Driving as long as possible would also help maintain mental and physical health, according to a study by the Mailman School of Public Health associated with Columbia University in the United States.
American researchers explain in the Journal of The American Geriatrics Society that stopping driving is associated with an increased risk of decline in physical and cognitive abilities. The study reveals a paradox: if automobile tripsaccount for 49% of deaths and 47% of injuries in those over 65, the risk of mortality at 5 years increases by 68% in those over 55 who stop driving, according to the study, taken up by Why Doctor. Seniors are then five times more likely to return to a retirement home.
Stopping driving amounts to restricting the size of the social circle by 51%. This less sociability would affect women’s health more than that of men, according to the authors. “As former drivers begin to substitute outdoor activities for indoor activities, this can affect physical abilities,” notes Thelma Mielenz, co-author of the study. When seniors stop driving, “it is important to develop personalized strategies to maintain mobility and social functions”, recommends the researcher by way of conclusion.
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