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Cited by 116Physical Activity and HealthCardiovascular and exercise physiologyExercise and Physiological Responses

Declining performance of master athletes: silhouettes of the trajectory of healthy human ageing?

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Lazarus, Norman R., Harridge, Stephen D. R.·2017·The Journal of Physiology
DOI 10.1113/jp272443PMC PMC5407960
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Abstract

Analysis of world record performances by master athletes suggests an essentially linear decline with age until around the eighth decade after which performance decline accelerates. Because these records are obtained from highly trained individuals they can be viewed as being reflective of the diminution of integrative physiological prowess that occurs solely as a result of ageing, unaffected by the confounding effects of inactivity. It can also be argued that these performance profiles mirror and provide an insight into the trajectory of the physiology of the human ageing process. Here we propose a set point theory that hypothesises that a given threshold of physical activity is needed to age optimally and to maximise the ‘healthspan’. Exercising at levels below the set point will result in ageing being contaminated by the unpredictable and pathological effects of inactivity. Exercise above this threshold stimulates adaptations towards maximising athletic performance, but is unlikely to have further beneficial effects on health. Thus the decades‐long, controlled diminution in athletic performance, should not be seen as a disease process. The ageing process is separate from, and independent of, exercise‐mediated processes that maintain or adapt physiological function. Whether an understanding of these mechanisms will also help uncover mechanisms underpinning the ageing process itself is open to question. However, any model which does not take into account the effects of activity will not adequately describe the inherent ageing process. image

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  1. Bouchard C, Shephard RJ & Stephens T (eds) (1994). Physical Activity and Health: International Proceedings and Consensus Statement. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.

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Authors
Lazarus, N. R., & Harridge, S. D. R.
Affiliations
King's College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Harridge, Stephen D. R.
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Physiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-01-18
Volume
595
Issue
9
Pages
2941-2948
ISSN
  • 0022-3751 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7793
DOI
10.1113/jp272443
PMC
PMC5407960
OpenAlex
W2546583038
Cited by
116
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 7
FWCI
1.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • The Journal of Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
Keywords
master athletes, world records, human aging, healthspan, set-point theory, physical activity thresholds, exercise adaptation, inactivity, biological aging
MeSH terms
Aging, Humans, Exercise, Athletic Performance

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