This review article was firstly focused on the relationship between mental health and physical activity, and secondarily summarized the evidences from epidemiological studies to elucidate the above-mentioned relationship for older in the community. Flnally, we would like to introduce the outline for our original epidemiological study for elderly in the Tsuyazaki. Fukuoka prefecture, Japan (Tsuyazaki Study). In the cross-sectional studies, it has been reported a significant negative association between mental health status such as depression or anxiety and level of physical activity in several populations. In addition, a few studies were reported in prospective epidemiological and short-term intervention studies on the relationship between mental health and physical activity or exercise. According to prospective epidemiological study, the physical activity or endurance fitness was significant independent predictor (risk factor) for the morbidity and all- caused mortality in the American and European country as well as Japan. These results may suggested that increased levels of physical activity and endurance fitness are recommended to prevent the development of lifestyle-related diseases. However, it is tended to have a deterioraiton of the mental health in peoples who have lower levels of physical activity and endurance fitness. If this is a case, this phenomenon suggested that we have to check carefully the mental health status before participation into the exercise program. In prospective epidemiological study, the conflicting results were shown in a few reports on the relationship between mental health and physical activity in the elderly person who lived in community. This result suggested that further studies were needed to elucidate on both relationship
