The decline in brain and body function with aging is caused more by inactivity than it is just by aging. A new study of 85 male and 41 female fit amateur cyclists, aged 55 to 79, found that most of them were physically much younger than most people of the same age. All rode their bikes for recreation and none were serious competitive athletes. The men had to be able to ride a metric century (62 miles)averaging only 10 miles per hour, and the women 60 kilometers (37 miles), averaging a slow 6.7 miles per hour.
The older bicyclists’ test results were close to those for younger people for:
• endurance,
• pedaling power,
• metabolic health (control of blood sugar levels),
• balance,
• memory function,
• bone density and
• reflexes.
If you want to be able to run, cycle or walk long distances fast as you grow older, you should try to exercise every day and try to go a little faster on some days. LynGianni/iStock
