Exercise and Lou Gehrig's Studies
by Julie Chapman
Published Sep 07, 2006
The more active you are now, the better you will feel later in life.



A new study shows that physically active middle-aged adults may continue to reap the benefits years later. Not only will you be in better shape, but you will reduce your chances of disease and disability as a senior citizen.



Of the men and women studied, those who were very active in their earlier years exceeded U.S. exercise recommendations when they became senior citizens and were able to complete 30 or more minutes of moderate-intensity exercise.



The report appears in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.




Compared to years past, people who come down with Lou Gehrig’s Disease nowadays appear to live longer.



Nonetheless, Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS as the disease is known formally, is still always fatal. Baylor University researchers have not found any specific factor to account for the improvements in recent years. The average survival rate after symptom onset was about 3 years.



But a recent study looked at patients over the last twenty years and found the average rate now is roughly 5 years. Researchers say it is possible that there has been a fundamental change in the natural history of the disease, so more study is planned.



You can see this in the archives of Neurology.



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American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Archives of Neurology
http://www.rnews.com/Story_2004.cfm?...62&category=10