Endurance Exercises Shown to Counteract Physical Dysfunction

By Richard Shank

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have demonstrated that physical dysfunctions once thought to be a normal part of aging are actually the result of unnecessary inactivity. Furthermore, they discovered that these dysfunctions can be overcome by engaging in regular exercises designed to build endurance.

The researchers sought to determine whether reduced insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and other related dysfunctions were the inevitable consequences of aging or whether they could be prevented by adequate physical activity.

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to a wide range of disorders thought to be part of the normal process of aging. These include neurodegenerative diseases, injuries related to stroke and heart attack, and diabetes. Similarly, reduced insulin sensitivity is related to diabetes, atherosclerosis, and skin lesions.

In the study, a total of 22 healthy young adults (18 to 30 years old) and 20 healthy older adults (59 to 76 years old) were examined. The subjects were divided into the following groups: young sedentary, young athlete, older sedentary, and older athlete. Sedentary subjects exercised less than 30 minutes per day, twice a week. The athletic groups performed at least one hour of cycling or running 6 days per week for at least four years. In addition to measuring the rate of mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance, the researchers examined the body fat levels of each group (among other health indicators).

The researchers found that physical changes in the older athletic age group were minimized by the endurance exercises they performed. Sedentary older adults experienced much more rapid physical declines on these measures than active older adults engaged in regular endurance training.

The researchers concluded that the conditions associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance are not a normal part of aging; rather, physical inactivity plays a large role in age-related dysfunction. It is clear from these findings that dysfunctions can be overcome by long-term, regular endurance exercises.

Source: Lanza, I. Short, D., Short, K. et al. 2008. Endurance exercise as countermeasure for aging. Diabetes 57:2933-2942.

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