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

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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.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          J. Physiol. (Lond.)
          The Journal of physiology
          Wiley-Blackwell
          1469-7793
          0022-3751
          May 01 2017
          : 595
          : 9
          Affiliations
          [1 ] Centre of Human and Aerospace Physiological Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
          Article
          10.1113/JP272443
          5407960
          27808406
          717ac385-713a-41fc-a8a2-07b88dc3a4e6
          History

          ageing,exercise physiology,health,performance,physical activity

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