Evidence-Based Pathways to Healthy Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Lifestyle Interventions for Longevity and Well-Being.
Sonopant Joshi, Mangesh Jabade, Husain Nadaf and 1 others
PMID 41289530WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults who followed Mediterranean diet, exercised, slept well, and stayed socially active showed better cardiovascular fitness, strength, balance, mood, and cognition.
These are broad lifestyle effects, not a single proven treatment.
Key findings
01The Mediterranean diet lowered cardiovascular risk by 22% in an included study.
02Combined aerobic and balance training reduced fall risk by 32%.
03Cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia improved sleep quality by 35%.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The eligibility criteria say randomized trials were required, but the included-study table lists reviews, observational studies and meta-analyses, so the evidence base is not clearly limited to trials. The total participant number is estimated, and the review kept exactly five studies for each lifestyle category, which may not reflect the full available evidence. The interventions were broad lifestyle domains, not isolated treatments, so the effect of any single component cannot be separated. Study lengths ranged from 3 months to 5 years and settings varied from hospitals and community centres to home-based programmes, so results may not transfer to every clinic or patient. The review tested many outcomes and subgroup analyses, and the supplied text does not show the forest plots or study-level data needed to verify the pooled results.
Declared interests
The article states no funding was secured.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the 32% fall reduction as proof that a single exercise type works for every older patient. It comes from combined aerobic and balance training, and the review also included many other lifestyle interventions.