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Heart drug 'boosts' OAP fitness | Heart drug 'boosts' OAP fitness |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A drug regularly prescribed for heart conditions could help pensioners to exercise more, according to scientists from Dundee University. | A drug regularly prescribed for heart conditions could help pensioners to exercise more, according to scientists from Dundee University. |
Researchers discovered older people became more active when they were given an ACE inhibitor called perindopril. | |
The test subjects, who had an average age of 79, were able to walk further than those who were given placebos. | The test subjects, who had an average age of 79, were able to walk further than those who were given placebos. |
Academics hope the study could be used to improve the quality of life for Britain's ageing population. | |
Researchers said the majority of the older people did not take regular exercise, even though it increases strength and slows mental decline. | Researchers said the majority of the older people did not take regular exercise, even though it increases strength and slows mental decline. |
'Important finding' | 'Important finding' |
They performed a test involving 130 pensioners from the Dundee area, who had difficulties performing day-to-day activities. | They performed a test involving 130 pensioners from the Dundee area, who had difficulties performing day-to-day activities. |
Some were given a placebo and others perindopril, which is usually prescribed for heart conditions. | |
We found that the people who had been given the drug could walk on average 30m further in six minutes than those who had been given the placebo Professor Marion McMurdo | We found that the people who had been given the drug could walk on average 30m further in six minutes than those who had been given the placebo Professor Marion McMurdo |
After 20 weeks, the research team discovered those who had been taking the active drugs were able to take more exercise and had a better quality of life than the placebo group. | After 20 weeks, the research team discovered those who had been taking the active drugs were able to take more exercise and had a better quality of life than the placebo group. |
The head of the university's ageing and health unit called it "a tremendously important finding". | The head of the university's ageing and health unit called it "a tremendously important finding". |
Professor Marion McMurdo said: "We have an ageing population and so it is vital to older people and the NHS that they stay as active as possible. | |
"We found that the people who had been given the drug could walk on average 30m further in six minutes than those who had been given the placebo. | "We found that the people who had been given the drug could walk on average 30m further in six minutes than those who had been given the placebo. |
"This is a level of improvement in exercise capacity that is equivalent to that reported after six months of exercise training, and may make an important difference for a growing sector of the population in which people might find it difficult to sustain that level of exercise." | "This is a level of improvement in exercise capacity that is equivalent to that reported after six months of exercise training, and may make an important difference for a growing sector of the population in which people might find it difficult to sustain that level of exercise." |
Prof McMurdo added that more research was needed to discover precisely why the drug worked. | |
She has been trying to establish if the drug has a beneficial effect on the heart, leg muscles or blood vessels. | |
The study follows on from previous research by her team, which found that heart failure patients were able to walk further after being prescribed ACE inhibitors. |
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