Older women would benefit from being prescribed exercise as medicine, according to a recent study.

Researchers from Queensland University of Technology in Australia found that moderate to high intensity activity is essential to reducing the risk of death in women older than 50 years. This finding suggests that in addition to conventional treatments for physical and mental health, health professionals should be prescribing tailored exercise programs for older women.

"Studies clearly show moderate to vigorous intensity activity can have mental and physical health benefits, particularly when part of broader positive health changes," researcher Debra Anderson said in a statement. "When once we thought that 30 minutes of mild exercise a day was enough to improve health, research is now telling us that older women should be doing at least 30-45 minutes five times a week of moderate to high intensity exercise and by that we mean exercise that leaves you huffing and puffing."

Anderson added that it is also important that the exercise be tailored to ensure that it is high intensity enough to obtain the positive sustained effects of exercise.

For the study, researchers analyzed five years of research looking into the impact of exercise on mental and physical health in women over the age of 50.

Professor Anderson said studies had shown that high intensity exercise over a sedentary lifestyle significantly reduced the risk of death.

"Older adults who undertake regular physical activity also report significantly less disability, better physical function and that is regardless of their body mass," she said. "The most active women are more likely to survive than the least physically active women.

She said research also linked exercise to improvements in mental well-being.

"What we are saying is that high-intensity exercise is not only good for your physical health but also your brain health," Anderson said.

Professor Anderson, who works closely with older women through specialized women's wellness programs, said older women were capable of undertaking a range of activities beyond simply walking.

"Our studies show that mid-to-later in life women are jogging, running, hiking, swimming and riding," she said. "Doctors should be developing exercise programs that are home-based and easy to incorporate as part of everyday activities."

The findings were recently published in the international journal of midlife health and beyond, Maturitas.