Scientists recently found that middle-aged people who exercise vigorously and moderately could develop resistance to age-related diseases. Such people have correspondingly better blood pressure values and higher arterial elasticity. The latter is a non-invasive measure ofcardiovascular risk. Additionally, there are more risks for sedentary adults of the same age group, according to the authors of the new study.
How sporting activities affect the risk of age-related diseases
Thanks to regular aerobic exercise, the study participants also showed comparable levels of the risk factors mentioned compared to young adults. Improvements in blood pressure control and vascular elasticity could therefore contribute to better regulation of cerebral blood flow in middle-aged people. Arterial stiffness in midlife is associated with a higher risk of stroke and dementia later in life. This is also linked to increased risks of chronic age-related diseases such as high blood pressure, kidney disease and diabetes. Therefore, the study authors investigated whether regular exercise in midlife could improve impaired cerebral regulation of blood flow, high blood pressure and arterial stiffness.
The authors conducted the recently published study on 20 middle-aged athletes (aged 45 to 64 years) with at least 10 years of aerobic training. For comparison, they recruited 20 adults under the age of 45 and 20 sedentary middle-aged test subjects. The scientists defined regular aerobic training in theirResearch work than running, cycling, swimming or multimodal exercise with moderate to vigorous intensity. The long-term benefits from the findings of these experiments could potentially mean significant improvements to human health, according to the authors.
Furthermore, the results have important clinical significance. This was reported by corresponding researcher Takashi Tarumi from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Tsukuba, Japan. From theconducted researchIt became clear that regular aerobic exercise in midlife prevents age-related chronic diseases. In addition, such sporting activities contribute to a healthy and extended lifespan.
