We’ve long known that aerobic exercise might help us live longer, and now strength training is being credited with the same effect.
According to a Harvard-led study published on June 12, 2026, in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, people who perform up to two hours of strength training each week over several decades may reduce their risk of dying earlier from several serious conditions, including heart disease and neurological diseases.
Researchers analyzed three major studies involving 147,374 adults (79% women) who were middle-aged or older at the start of the studies and followed them for up to 30 years. Participants reported how frequently and vigorously they exercised, including resistance training (such as weightlifting and bodyweight exercises) and aerobic activity (including brisk walking, cycling, and running). Deaths from all causes were also recorded.
Study Results
Participants who completed 90 to 119 minutes of resistance training per week were:
13% less likely to die from any cause during the study period.
19% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.
27% less likely to die from neurological diseases, such as dementia.
Aerobic exercise remained a strong, independent predictor of living longer, but the greatest benefit was observed when resistance training was combined with it. Participants who regularly did both had up to a 45% lower risk of dying during the study period than those who did little aerobic activity and no resistance training.