Resources - Mature Market Headlines

Staying a Step Ahead of Aging

The New York Times (registration required), 1/31/08

Abstract:

You know what is supposed to happen when you grow old. You will slow down, you will grow weak, your steps will become short and mincing, and you will lose your sense of balance. That's what aging researchers consistently find, and it's no surprise to most of us.

But it is worth remembering that the people in those studies were sedentary, said Dr. Vonda Wright, a professor of orthopedics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Wright, a 40-year-old runner, decided to study people who kept training as they got older or began competing in middle age. She wanted to know what happens to them and at what age does performance start to decline.

The results are surprising, even to many of the researchers themselves. The investigators find that while you will slow down as you age, you may be able to stave off more of the deterioration than you thought...

...It's a testament to how adaptable the human body is, researchers said, that people can start serious training at an older age and become highly competitive. It also is a testament to their findings that some physiological factors needed for a good performance are not much affected by age.

> Read the full story > Return to 50+ Headlines