The exercise helps the muscles aging to stay young

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QMI agency

Sunday, 18 march 2018 17:13

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Sunday, 18 march 2018 17:13

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Exercise on a regular basis once past the age of 55 would help to slow down the aging of muscles, have demonstrated to researchers in the uk and australian studies reported by the “New York Times”.

In a first study, published in 2014, the scientists were recruited 125 cyclists british, men and women, aged 55 to 79 years. All were cycling regularly, travelling about 650 miles per month, but without a competition. The study had shown that these cyclists had reflexes, a capacity of a memory and a metabolic profile that was similar to that of a person in their thirties than those of a sedentary person in their age group.

The researchers have pushed their experiences further by incorporating the data of a portion of these cyclists to analyze the aging of their muscle cells. By analyzing muscle tissue samples taken by biopsy, the scientists were able to determine that the muscles of cyclists between the ages retained their size and composition over the decades. Those who traveled the greatest distances per month also had the muscles in better health, regardless of their age.

In parallel, another team analyzed the immune system of the cyclists with blood. They were thus able to determine that the active seniors had a rate of T-lymphocytes – white blood cells that attack the cells of patients – as high as younger people.

The researchers believe that these results could be related because the muscles secrete a hormone that protects the thymus, a gland in development of t lymphocytes.

“The message conveyed in these studies, is that something that seemed as inevitable as growing old may in fact prevent”, summarized the director of the institute on inflammation and aging at the university of Birmingham, Dr Janet Lord, according to remarks reported by the “Times”.