Medical Report: Exercising to combat depression

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Depression is less common among people in their 50s and 60s. In fact, the rate of depression in this age group is less than 5%.

However, depression increases dramatically when seniors are faced with repeated hospitalizations or a move to a long-term care facility.

Scientists looked at men and women in similar situations and found that there is a tool that consistently works against depressive episodes: exercise.

Whether aerobic or resistance training or a combination of the two, exercise was found to work well when combined with anti-depressant medication. In some cases, exercise eliminated the need for medication altogether.

Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough .

​​KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.