Benefits of Exercise for All Ages: Insights from a Recent Study
Growing Elderly Population and Health Concerns
A study published in Frontiers in Physiology explored the advantages of exercise for individuals of all ages. In 2015, the global population of people aged 65 and older reached 617.1 million, with projections indicating a rise of over 60% to approximately one billion by 2030. This increase in the elderly population correlates with heightened healthcare needs. However, a longer lifespan does not necessarily equate to healthier years.
Research Motivation and Hypothesis
To address the health challenges faced by the aging population, researchers from the University of Birmingham aimed to identify methods for improving health through exercise. They hypothesized that lifelong exercisers would experience greater benefits from physical activity compared to those who had not engaged in structured exercise.
Study Design and Participant Groups
The study involved two groups of participants. The first group included seven lifelong athletes with an average age of 69, who continued to compete. The second group comprised eight men with an average age of 74, who, while in good health, had not participated in any structured exercise program.
Methodology and Testing Procedures
Participants visited the University of Birmingham’s School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences (SportExR) laboratory four times. During the initial visit, they provided saliva samples and underwent assessments of body composition and blood pressure. They also completed a strength training exercise to familiarize themselves with the routine. Subsequently, participants were given deuterated water, an isotope tracer for tracking muscle protein changes, and a pedometer to monitor daily activity levels.
The second visit occurred three days later, where another saliva sample and muscle sample were collected, and participants were provided with food to standardize calorie intake for the following four days. During the third visit, participants submitted additional saliva and muscle samples, completed their exercise routine, and rested for one hour before another muscle sample was taken. The final visit took place two days later for the last saliva and muscle sample collection.
Findings and Implications
Researchers analyzed the collected samples to determine whether the benefits of exercise were exclusive to those with a history of physical activity. Surprisingly, the results indicated no significant difference between lifelong athletes and the non-athletic participants. This finding suggests that individuals can gain the benefits of exercise regardless of their prior engagement in physical activity.
Lead researcher Dr. Leigh Breen stated, “Our study clearly shows that it doesn’t matter if you haven’t been a regular exerciser throughout your life, you can still derive benefit from exercise whenever you start. Obviously, a long-term commitment to good health and exercise is the best approach to achieve whole-body health, but even starting later on in life will help delay age-related frailty and muscle weakness.”
Future Directions for Public Health
The researchers hope their findings will assist public health advisors in creating tailored guidelines for older adults to enhance muscle strength. Simple activities such as gardening, walking, or lifting heavy objects can serve as effective exercise routines, allowing individuals to reap the benefits of physical activity at any age.
References
McKendry J, Shad B, Smeuninx B et al. Comparable Rates of Integrated Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis Between Endurance-Trained Master Athletes and Untrained Older Individuals. Front Physiol. 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.01084
U.S. Census Bureau. An Aging World: 2015. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Publishing Office; 2016.