So says Mary Bernard, deputy director of the National Institute on Aging in an article the recently appeared in USA Today.  She went on to say, “With all the gains we’ve made over the years allowing people to live longer, it would be nice if more people took advantage of exercise to improve the quality of a longer life.”

According to the article, numerous studies have shown that exercise can be a buffer against many age-related problems including dementia and the muscle and bone loss that ultimately leads to frailty and loss of independence.

In addition, exercise makes us feel better, reduces the risk of heart disease, helps prevent depression and helps us recover from illnesses more quickly.  The article went on to state that it’s never too late to start exercising and the best time to start is now.