We're Living Longer

The average U.S. life expectancy is now at 78 - how to get there gracefully by exercising, eating well and keeping your mind and spirit engaged

Besse Cooper of Georgia holds a place in the Guinness World Records book-not because of a hidden talent but because, at 115, she's believed to be the world's oldest person.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the average life expectancy in the United States is 78 years. That makes Cooper's 115 birthday candles downright amazing. It also denotes that Americans must be doing something right when it comes to healthy living. Congratulations!

So, what is it that that you're doing right? Or, rather, should be doing right? Turns out, it's all about how you move your body.

Fitness Fights Disease

Physical activity seems to be the magic bullet in terms of fighting disease, reducing depression and aging well. "When we talk about older adults and the ways they age and the chronic conditions they develop, they tend to lose mobility slowly," says Sue Lachenmayr, a senior program associate at the National Council on Aging's Center for Healthy Aging. "We should encourage seniors to participate in physical activities, but it's important to take small steps toward reaching shortterm goals."

Whether that goal is simply getting strong enough to walk to the mailbox, garnering enough energy to dance the cha-cha at your granddaughter's wedding, or maintaining a high level of physical activity into your golden years, a fitness routine should be tailor-made to your fitness level, lifestyle and support system.

"The best activities are those that a person will do," says Carole Carson, an AARP health coach and author of From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction. "For seniors at home, chair dancing videos may be the answer. For others, a daily walk-and talk- with a girlfriend will promote fitness. Tai chi may be helpful for those with arthritis."

More than ever, Carson adds, seniors are discovering the athlete within. For those who played sports when they were younger, that may mean joining the United States Tennis Association and playing competitive tennis with other seniors. Carson did just that. "I traded a rocking chair for a tennis racket," she says.

Surround Yourself in Support

What's more, there seems to be a strong connection between healthy behaviors- such as getting your fi tness on-and good mental health, specifi cally in the prevention of such cognitive disorders as Alzheimer's disease.

"One of the things we recognize is that depression is often underdiagnosed and left untreated in older adults," Lachenmayr says. "Someone who may be isolated may not have the opportunity to do a lot of things, while people with a stronger social network may make better choices for their health. Any number of chronic conditions are improved or delayed through physical activity."

So, you've found your exercise groove, you're eating well and you're engaging with friends and family. What happens when you hit that dreaded fi tness plateau, or, worse, suffer a minor injury?

Stay connected. Often, fit people run in circles of other fit people, and they can serve as role models, encouraging you to get back on track. If a nagging injury is plaguing you, massage can go a long way toward prompting recovery.

"Massage can improve a senior's range of motion and joint flexibility, stimulate the body's natural defense system, stretch tight muscles and improve circulation," Carson says. "And for seniors living alone, massage is a unique activity where the touch of another person increases body awareness while reducing the sense of isolation. People of all ages, but especially seniors, can benefit from those results."

-By Kelly Kramer