Khaberni - A decades-long study revealed that human physical ability peaks at age 35 and begins to decline shortly after.
Although physical fitness, strength, and muscle endurance may change beyond this age, researchers emphasize that "it is never too late" to start engaging in physical exercise, as physical activity even in later life stages can be beneficial for overall health.
Previous studies have shown that muscle tissue functions can significantly decrease in one's sixties, affecting an individual’s ability to live independently.
Until now, researchers have relied on studies conducted at specific time points with selected participants to understand this phenomenon. By comparison, the new study conducted by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden followed more than 400 randomly selected men and women born in 1958 over 47 years, measuring their fitness and strength regularly from age 16 to 63.
The results show that fitness and strength begin to decline as early as age 35, regardless of the amount of training.
According to the study published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, after reaching age 35, there is a gradual deterioration in physical ability that accelerates with age.
The researchers wrote: "The rate of decline was initially minor but increased with age in both sexes, without a difference between males and females. The overall decline in physical ability from the peak until age 63 ranged from 30% to 48%."
The findings provide new insights into how physical ability changes over time, which coincide with similar results previously seen in elite athletes, according to the researchers.
They explained: "This confirms the notion that a decline in physical ability can be observed before the age of 40, which may later lead to clinically significant physical impairment, especially among individuals who lead a sedentary lifestyle. However, researchers affirm that 'it is never too late to get moving.' The results found that even participants in the study who began physical activity in adulthood improved their physical abilities by 5-10%, according to the researchers."
In future studies, the researchers hope to discover the mechanisms underlying humans reaching their peak performance at age 35, and 'why physical activity can slow performance loss, but not stop it completely.'
The researchers hope to continue the study next year with the same participants, who will then be 68 years old, aiming to find links between physical ability, lifestyle, health, and biological mechanisms.
