How does neighborhood "walkability” influence patterns of activity in older adults?

This national study involved nearly 1,000 older adults in four diverse areas of the country (California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and North Carolina). Researchers examined the relationship between elements of the built environment (e.g., level of density and use), levels of functional capacity (e.g., lower-body strength and balance), and levels of walking (e.g., frequency, distance, location, and destination) among adults age 65 and older. They determined how the level of functional capacity affects the relationship between the built environment and the levels of walking among older adults. This is a project under the Healthy Aging Network (HAN), a group of nine universities working together on research topics related to healthy aging, including physical activity in older adults, cognitive health, depression, and nutrition.