{"id":107309,"date":"2018-03-12T12:00:49","date_gmt":"2018-03-12T12:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=107309"},"modified":"2018-03-12T11:16:23","modified_gmt":"2018-03-12T11:16:23","slug":"how-exercise-in-old-age-prevents-the-immune-system-from-declining","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2018\/03\/how-exercise-in-old-age-prevents-the-immune-system-from-declining\/","title":{"rendered":"How Exercise in Old Age Prevents the Immune System from Declining"},"content":{"rendered":"

Doing lots of exercise in older age can prevent the immune system from declining and protect people against infections, scientists say.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Professor Norman Lazarus, aged 82, has the immune system of a 20 year old.<\/p><\/div>\n

8 Mar 2018 – <\/em>They followed 125 long-distance cyclists, some now in their 80s, and found they had the immune systems of 20-year-olds.<\/p>\n

Prof Norman Lazarus, 82, of King’s College London,<\/a> who took part in and co-authored the research, said: “If exercise was a pill, everyone would be taking it.<\/p>\n

“It has wide-ranging benefits for the body, the mind, for our muscles and our immune system.”<\/p>\n

The research was published in the journal Aging Cell.<\/a><\/p>\n

Prof Janet Lord, director of the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing<\/a>, at the University of Birmingham, and co-author of the research, said: “The immune system declines by about 2-3% a year from our 20s, which is why older people are more susceptible to infections, conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and, potentially, cancer.<\/p>\n

“Because the cyclists have the immune system of a 20-year-old rather than a 70- or 80-year-old, it means they have added protection against all these issues.”<\/p>\n

The researchers looked at markers in the blood for T-cells, which help the immune system respond to new infections.<\/p>\n

These are produced in the thymus, a gland in the chest, which normally shrinks in size in adulthood.<\/p>\n

‘Out of puff’<\/strong><\/p>\n

They found that the endurance cyclists were producing the same level of T-cells as adults in their 20s, whereas a group of inactive older adults were producing very few.<\/p>\n

The researchers believe that being physically active in old age will help people respond better to vaccines, and so be better protected against infections such as flu.<\/p>\n

Steve Harridge, co-author and professor of physiology at King’s College London<\/a>, said: “Being sedentary goes against evolution because humans are designed to be physically active.<\/p>\n

“You don’t need to be a competitive athlete to reap the benefits – or be an endurance cyclist – anything which gets you moving and a little bit out of puff will help.”<\/p>\n

Prof Harridge and Prof Lazarus believe that highly physically active older people represent the perfect group in which to analyse the true effects of biological ageing.<\/p>\n

A separate paper in Aging Cell found that the cyclists did not lose muscle mass or strength, and did not see an increase in body fat – which are usually associated with ageing.<\/p>\n

I met a dozen of the cyclists, on a morning ride in Surrey. Despite the bitter cold, they were universally cheerful, and clearly used to riding in all weathers.<\/p>\n

They are members of Audax<\/a>, a long-distance cycling organisation that organises events ranging from 100km to 300km.<\/p>\n

The older members – in their 80s – say they do only the “short” 100km (62-mile) rides, but this is still highly impressive.<\/p>\n

So why do they do it? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Pam Jones, 79, told me: “I do it for my health, because it’s sociable, and because I enjoy the freedom it gives you.”<\/p>\n

Brian Matkins, 82, said: “One of the first results I got from the medical study was I was told my body fat was comparable to that of a 19-year-old.”<\/p>\n

Aged just 64, Jim Woods, is a comparative youngster in the group. He averages 100 miles a week on his bike, with more during the summer.<\/p>\n

He said: “I cycle for a sense of wellbeing and to enjoy our wonderful countryside.”<\/p>\n

Cycling 60 miles or more may not be your idea of fun, but these riders have found something that gives them pleasure, which is a key reason why they continue.<\/p>\n

__________________________________________<\/p>\n

Fergus Walsh<\/a> – Medical correspondent<\/em><\/p>\n

Go to Original \u2013 bbc.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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