HART researchers, Joanna Blackwell and Adam Evans, together with international colleagues representing nine countries and a variety of academic disciplines met in Snekkersten, Denmark, to reach evidence-based consensus about physical activity and older adults. It was recognised that the term ‘older adults’ represents a highly heterogeneous population, encompassing those who remain highly active and healthy throughout the life-course to the very old, and oldest-old and frail. The consensus statement is drawn from a wide range of research methodologies within epidemiology, medicine, physiology, neuroscience, psychology and sociology, recognising the strength and limitations of each. The statement distinguishes between physical activity and exercise, and presents the consensus on the effects of physical activity on older adults’ fitness, health, cognitive functioning, functional capacity, engagement, motivation, psychological well-being and social inclusion. It also covers the consensus on physical activity implementation strategies. The statement is available on open access here.
University of Lincoln, College of Social Science Research
Jens Bangsbo, Department of Nutrition Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen
Joanna Blackwell, School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Lincoln, and Department of Nutrition Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen
Carl-Johan Boraxbekk, DRCMR, University of Copenhagen
Paolo Caserotti, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Syddansk Universitet
Flemming Dela, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
Adam Evans, Department of Nutrition Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen
Astrid Pernille Jespersen, Copenhagen Centre for Health Research in the Humanities, University of Copenhagen
Lasse Gliemann, Department of Nutrition Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen
Arthur Kramer, Center for Cognitive and Brain Health, Northeastern University
Jesper Lundbye-Jensen, Department of Nutrition Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen
Erik Lykke Mortense, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen
Aske Juul Lassen, Copenhagen Centre for Health Research in the Humanities, University of Copenhagen
Alan Gow, Department of Psychology, Heriot-Watt University and Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh
Stephen Harridge, Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, King’s College London
Ylva Hellsten, Department of Nutrition Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen
Michael Kjaer, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Geriatrics, Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen
Urho Kujala, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä
Ryan Rhodes, School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education, University of Victoria
Elizabeth Pike, Department of Psychology and Sport Sciences, University of Hertfordshire
Timothy Skinner, Department of Psychology, Kobenhavns Universitet
Thomas Skovgaard, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark
Jens Troelsen, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Syddansk Universitet
Emmanuelle Tulle, Glasgow School for Business and Society, Glasgow Caledonian University
Mark Tully, School of Health Sciences, University of Ulster
Jannique van Uffelen, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven
Jose Viña, Department of Physiology, Universitat de Valencia