Peak Physical Abilities Reached Around Age 35
Exercise Can Slow the Rate of Aging
A study has found that human physical abilities begin to decline around the age of 35. However, it was also confirmed that physical fitness can be improved through exercise at any age. While exercise cannot reverse aging, it can slow down the rate at which it progresses.
Recently, the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle published research on physical aging led by a team from Sweden's Karolinska Institute. The study tracked several hundred men and women born in 1958 (222 men and 205 women) over a period of 47 years, from age 16 to 63, to examine how their physical fitness, muscle strength, and muscular endurance changed over time.
The results showed that both men and women reached their peak physical abilities before the age of 36. It was also confirmed that all physical fitness indicators declined rapidly after the age of 40.
Specifically, the average annual decline in physical ability after reaching the peak was less than 1% during the first 10 years. However, during the final decade of the observation period, from age 53 to 63, the annual decline rate accelerated to 2%. Compared to the average peak age, the loss of physical ability by age 63 was 37% (ranging from 30% to 48%) for both men and women.
The decline in physical ability was observed in both elite athletes and the general population. However, the rate of decline was much lower among athletes than among non-athletes. For the general population, aerobic capacity and muscular endurance dropped to about 65% of their peak levels by age 63, whereas athletes of the same age group maintained more than 80% of their peak abilities.
This means that consistent exercise can slow down the aging process. In particular, those who were physically active at age 16 maintained higher levels of aerobic capacity, muscular endurance, and strength throughout their lives. Forming exercise habits during adolescence and early adulthood greatly increases the likelihood of enjoying a healthy life over the long term.
Maria Westerstahl, Professor of Clinical Laboratory Medicine who led the study, emphasized, "It is never too late to start exercising. This study clearly demonstrates that while physical activity cannot completely prevent the decline in physical ability, it can certainly slow it down."
She added, "Everyone reaches their peak physical ability around the age of 35. In the future, we plan to further investigate why exercise can slow the decline in physical ability but cannot completely stop it."
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