London – Looking younger for longer could be as easy as riding a bike. For cycling really does keep the body – and the mind – young, scientists say.
A study of fit amateur cyclists aged 55 to 79 found many were physically much younger than most people their age.
The 81 male and 41 female participants underwent extensive tests, including of their hearts, lungs, reflexes, muscle and bone strength and mental ability.
Smokers and heavy drinkers were excluded.
Despite an age range of 25 years, older members of the group had similar muscle strength, lung power and exercise capacity to the younger participants.
In a simple test to show a person’s risk of falling over – which measured how long it took participants to stand from a chair, walk 3m, walk back and sit down – even those in their seventies achieved times expected of healthy young adults, the Journal of Physiology reports.
The participants were all able to cycle long distances, but you do not need to be super fit to enjoy the benefits of activities like cycling – as it is staying active at any level that is important.
Dr Ross Pollock, who led the team of scientists from King’s College London, warned that most of us are inactive, which causes “physiological problems at any age”.
Professor Norman Lazarus said that staying active could “buy you extra years of function”.
Daily Mail