Linking a peer coach physical activity intervention for older adults to a primary care referral scheme.

Background: Physical inactivity has contributed to the current prevalence of many age-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Peer coach physical activity intervention are effective in increasing long term physical activity in community dwelling older adults. Linking peer coach physical activity interventions to formal care could therefore be a promising novel method to improve health in inactive older adults to a successful long-term physical activity intervention.

[From healthy individuals to healthy populations].

In the study by Verstraeten et al. higher rates of mortality were observed in Caribbean islands that have a higher degree of autonomy to their original colonizer. This study highlights how population determinants can affect population health.

Vitality club: a proof-of-principle of peer coaching for daily physical activity by older adults.

Many age-related diseases can be prevented or delayed by daily physical activity. Unfortunately, many older adults do not perform physical activity at the recommended level. Professional interventions do not reach large numbers of older adults for a long period of time.

Early and extraordinary peaks in physical performance come with a longevity cost.

Life history theory postulates a trade-off between development and maintenance. This trade-off is observed when comparing life histories of different animal species. In humans, however, it is debated if variation in longevity is explained by differences in developmental traits.