Exercise and satisfying relationships are the secrets to good health in later life

Research behind two separate studies has found that maintaining strong social networks and keeping physically active in mid-life are key factors in avoiding multiple long term health conditions in old age. Photograph: monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Enjoying satisfying relationships with partners, family, friends and work colleagues and exercising at least once every month could boost your physical and mental health in old age, two studies suggest.

Globally, people are living longer and every country in the world is experiencing growth in the size and proportion of older people in their population. The number of those aged 80 or older is set to triple between 2020 and 2050, to reach 426 million.