The Physiology of Aging and Exercise

Abstract

Biological aging does not always align with chronological aging. Age-related alterations in the neuromuscular and cardiovascular systems may have the greatest impact on physical function. Disability and aerobic physical frailty are related and have profound effects upon outcomes important to older adults, such as nursing home residence and mortality. Physiologic aging mimics ``disuse'' syndromes. Exercise reverses many physiological changes commonly associated with aging. Disuse may actually be a key cause of primary aging.