We already know that exercising in midlife is tied to longevity. But how much of a difference can it make? Quite a bit: women who consistently meet physical activity guidelines through this stage of life appear to have significantly lower odds of dying prematurely, according to a study published online March 26, 2026, by PLOS Medicine . Researchers analyzed data from 11,169 women born between 1946 and 1951 who were surveyed about their exercise habits every three years between 1996 and 2019 (