Does greater physical activity improve indices of autonomic function in older adults?
Habitual physical activity in older adults is associated with improved autonomic function, suggesting a potential mechanism for its cardiovascular mortality benefits.
Greater total leisure-time activity, and walking alone, as well, were prospectively associated with more favorable and specific indices of autonomic function in older adults, including several suggestive of more normal circadian fluctuations and less erratic sinoatrial firing. Our results suggest potential mechanisms that might contribute to lower cardiovascular mortality with habitual physical activity later in life.
Soares‐Miranda et al. (2014) studied this question.