Cycling and the fountain of youth

It's already known that cyclists typically have a level of fitness equivalent to being 10 years younger, but now scientists believe cycling could be responsible for maintaining youth itself; a two-wheeled fountain of youth.

Researchers at Kings College London monitored 120 cyclists aged between 55 and 79 and failed to observe signs of ageing that would be typical in the same age profile.

Cycling and the 'fountain of youth'

Cycling and the fountain of youth. The association may seem fanciful, but the researchers found that regulat riders 'optimise the ageing proces'. Steve Harridge of King’s College London, senior author of the study published in the Journal of Physiology said: “We had assumed that there is a linear straight line decline in physiology with ageing, but that is very unlikely to be the case. We’re not saying we’re reversing ageing, but that cycling seems to optimise the ageing process."

"Because most of the population is largely sedentary, the tendency is to assume that inactivity is the inevitable condition for humans. However, given that our genetic inheritance stems from a period when high levels of physical activity were the likely norm, being physically active should be considered to play an essential role in maintaining health and well-being throughout life."

In order to qualify for the study, the 120 cyclists had to be capable of covering 100 km (60 km for women) in less than five and a half hours. The subjects had their respiratory, cardiovascular, neuromuscular, metabolic, endocrine and cognitive functions assesed over two days.

According to the researchers, the main problem facing such health research is sedentary lifestyle, which causes physiological problems at any age. This can cause confusion over how much the decline in bodily functions is due to the natural ageing process and how much to the combined effects of ageing and inactivity.

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