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Healthy Aging By Sharon Johnson At 83, Charlie just keeps on climbing In September, Charlie Cummons climbed Mount McLoughlin. A month later, he turned 83. He looks fit and he is. He is a tall, lean man with a military bearing who keeps trim and healthy by walking - and climbing. Charlie walks a 2.25-mile loop each day starting at 4:30 a.m. Ordinary day or holiday. Rain or shine. His large umbrella, parked just inside the front door of his home, is testimony to his intentions. Walking is an easy way to get exercise. It takes a good pair of shoes and a bit of commitment. Well, maybe a lot of commitment. But it is worth it. Walking is literally the road to health. The climbing part is harder - let us take them one at a time. When Charlie steps out of his neat-as-a-pin house to take his morning walk, he is reducing his risk of heart disease. Additionally, research suggests that his walking is a way to help his brain better manage the aging process. California researchers followed 6,000 women over the age of 65 for eight years and found that the women who walked the least were the most likely to develop memory problems. The women walked between one-half mile and 18 miles each week. For every extra mile walked, there was a reported 13 percent less chance of memory loss. Walking keeps Charlie mentally and physically in shape and ready for his climbs. He can easily rattle off the local elevations he has tackled over the years. Watchman LookOut, Wagner Butte, Whiskey Peak. I saw a photo of him sitting on a rock at the top of one peak, looking a whole lot younger than 80 years. Charlie is a somber man by nature. But on that photo, he was almost smiling. Like the walking regimen he follows, Charlie's climbs are executed with focus and good planning. He watches the weather and plans his small adventures with care. Charlie checked with his doctor about the wisdom of continuing to climb at his age and was advised only to "climb with a friend." He is selective about his climbing companions, but as weather permits, and his caregiving responsibilities to his wife allow, Charlie regularly sets out and up. Physical activity is the often-unsung secret of healthy aging. No need to seek out 9,000-foot elevations. Even in these rainy, sometimes windy, winter days, healthier aging is a pair of good shoes and a rain slicker away. Former President Harry Truman chatted with reporters during his morning walks - supposedly trotting along at a rapid clip. Presidents Lincoln and Jefferson were avid walkers. Laura Bush is said to be a walker. I have known people who have walked themselves into a substantial weight loss. I have known folks who have literally walked away grief and depression. Walkers are winners. Charlie Cummons uses walking to keep to his psyche sharp and intact and his energy high, so he can better address his full-time caregiving responsibilities. Walker, climber, caregiver - this strong, healthy, aging man serves as an example for all of us. A winner, on many levels. Sharon Johnson is an assistant professor in family and community development at OSU Extension and a member of the Senior Advisory Council. Reach her at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.