Fitness Peaks at 35, Decline Starts Early: Study

New research indicates that physical fitness capabilities begin to diminish as early as age 35. The extensive Swedish Physical Activity and Fitness study, spanning 47 years, tracked over 400 individuals and discovered that cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength start to wane after this age, irrespective of prior exercise habits. This decline affects both men and women, though specific patterns emerge, with women losing muscle power around age 32 and men a few years later, while aerobic endurance declines at 45 for both. The study concluded that this pattern mirrors that seen in elite athletes, suggesting a universal aspect of aging. Overall physical capacity can drop by 30-48% by age 63. However, the findings also offer hope, demonstrating that initiating physical activity can improve performance by 5-10% and significantly slow the rate of decline, even if it cannot entirely halt it. Researchers are now focused on understanding the underlying mechanisms driving these changes and the precise impact of physical activity.