Question: When we get to the ages of 50+ why are we not as active? What happens to us?

Emma Ross answered on 24 Jun 2013:

Lots of things happen as we get old that make it harder for us to be active. We naturally lose muscle mass each year (about 1% every year after the age of 25), and our maximal oxygen capacity (how aerobically fit we are) also natuarlly declines by about 1% each year – and there is nothing we can do about these declines, they are just a natural part of aging. Combined with the fact that our nerves don’t send signals to each other as well, and therefore we do things more slowly, or can’t react to things as fast, moving around when we are older is a bit tougher than when we are young! HOwever, there is lots of research that shows if you stay active all through your life, you will be more healthy in old age, and you won’t suffer the declines in fitness and health that other people who don’t do exercise will experience.

The term ‘use it or lose it’ is really important here – if you continue to be active through life, and you challenge your muscles, lungs and heart through exercise, they will continue to function well in old age. There’s also evidence that if you keep using your brain for things like for mental arithmitic your brain will function better in old age. There is even research that shows that if you do the Wii Fit in old age it can make you healthier and less likely to fall!