WASHINGTON – There’s good news for travel enthusiasts. Research shows a link between travel and improved health.
The Global Coalition on Aging analyzed academic and social research and found travel promotes health, lowers stress and keeps the mind active. Also, it puts people in better moods, the research found.
The research even suggests travel could extend travelers’ lives.
Here are some of the activities GCOA says are commonly associated with travel that have important health and social benefits:
- Older adults who are physically active have lower rates of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and cancers. Also, they have a lower risk of falling and better cognitive function.
- Ordinary activities, such as listening to the radio, reading newspapers, playing puzzle games and visiting museums, have been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by as much as 47 percent.
- Maintaining or initiating social participation in later life has been shown to have positive benefits on the mental health of older adults.
WTOP’s Andrew Mollenbeck contributed to this report. Follow @MollenbeckWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.
