People over the age of 50 who walk for at least 150 minutes per week have better mental health, new Irish research has shown.

According to data from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) - an ongoing study of people in Ireland over the age of 50 - being physically active, even just walking, for 150 minutes per week is linked with more social participation, better mental health and better overall wellbeing.

Adults in Ireland are recommended to be physically active for at least 150 minutes per week. However, this latest research found that just three in five people over the age of 50 were managing to walk for this long each week.

Just one-third of people in this age group were undertaking high levels of physical activity, with the rest undertaking low or moderate levels.

However, the research found that those who were highly active tended to participate more in social activities. They were also less anxious, less lonely and had a better overall quality of life than those with low activity levels.

In fact, those who undertook low levels of activity were more than twice as likely to display depressive symptoms compared to those who were highly active.

The researchers involved in the research emphasised how even just walking could make a big difference to people over the age of 50.

"Walking is a simple and accessible activity for most people and walking just 150 minutes a week is sufficient to achieve improved mental health and better quality of life," explained TILDA project manager, Dr Orla Donoghue.

The researchers added that policies and initiatives aimed at increasing activity levels in people over the age of 50 ‘have the potential to improve physical and mental health, social engagement and overall wellbeing'.

For more information on TILDA, click here