Study Determines the Start of Physical Decline in the Body
A long-term study reveals that physical abilities begin to decline before age 40, with peak performance between 26 and 36, and that regular exercise slows this deterioration.
Translated by Qiyas from الأنباء — Original source
A recent scientific study conducted by researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, which followed participants over 47 years, shows that human physical abilities begin to decline gradually before the age of 40. The longitudinal study included 427 individuals born in the same period, who underwent repeated tests and close monitoring between the ages of 16 and 63 to determine the exact timing when the body starts to lose strength and vitality.
The monitoring and follow-up results revealed that physical capacity and muscular endurance peak in early adulthood, specifically between the ages of 26 and 36, after which a gradual decline begins, accelerating as people age.
Indicators showed that explosive muscular power, measured by the vertical jump test, declines at a very early age. It peaks at age 27 for men, while it declines earlier, at age 19, for women.
Despite this inevitable decline driven by aging, the study offered a ray of hope for maintaining health. Lead researcher Maria Westerström confirmed that regular physical activity during adulthood can significantly slow the pace of this deterioration, although it does not stop it entirely. The results showed that individuals who maintained a regular exercise routine achieved noticeable improvements in their physical abilities ranging from 5% to 10%, underscoring the importance of exercise as a buffer that extends the lifespan of physical fitness.
