Just a small amount of exercise each day can have a significant impact on the lifespan of over 60s, according to new research.

With 60 per cent of over 60s managing no regular exercise at all, scientists have suggested that just 15 minutes a day of exercise could be a more manageable and “reasonable target dose” to get people moving.

Current guidelines of achieving 150 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous physical activity have been shown to bring a wide range of health benefits, reducing risk of major illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.

But government figures show only 17 per cent of men and 13 per cent of women over 60 manage the recommended amount. Given that just 15 minutes of physical activity per day lowers the risk of early death by 22 per cent – only six per cent less than the benefits of the recommended level – researchers have suggested that a quarter of an hour of exercise a day may be a more realistic target that over 60s would be more likely to adhere to.

The analysis of a range of previous studies, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine assessed risk of death according to weekly physical activity for those aged 60 and above.

"Based on these results, we believe that the target for physical activity in the current recommendations might be too high for older adults and may discourage some of them,” said study author Dr David Hupin from the Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology at the University Hospital of St-Etienne-Lyon.

“The fact that any effort will be worthwhile may help convince those 60 per cent of participants over 60 years of age, who do not practice any regular physical activity, to become active."