Steady Daily Rhythm Plus Exercise Tied to 65% Lower Death Risk
Graded Moderate — researchers followed 6,621 adults wearing activity trackers for almost seven years; as an observational study it shows links, not cause and effect.
- Design
- Prospective cohort study
- Participants
- 6,621
- Duration
- 6.8 years
- Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China; Beijing Municipal Public Welfare…
People with a clear daily switch between activity and rest who also moved enough were much less likely to die during the study.
Some people are clearly active by day and settle down at night. Their daily rhythm of activity and rest is strong. In a US study, people with such a rhythm who also moved enough were much less likely to die. Compared with people who had a weak rhythm and too little activity, their risk of dying was 65 percent lower. Their risk of dying from heart and blood vessel disease was 75 percent lower.
The data came from 6,621 adults in a large US health survey from 2011 to 2014. Each wore an activity tracker on the wrist. From it, the researchers worked out how pronounced the switch between activity and rest was. After a median of almost seven years, 518 participants had died, 165 of them from heart and blood vessel disease.
The authors conclude that enough exercise could soften the higher risk linked to a disrupted rhythm. A preliminary extra analysis found that faster biological aging, calculated from blood values, accounted for a small part of the link. The authors say this idea still needs testing. The study observed people and cannot show that a steadier rhythm itself makes anyone live longer.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.