02/04/2025
Cycling is a great form of aerobic exercise for all ages groups. This study suggests that cycling into your 80's can still have a positive effect on your immune system helping to fight off "potential infection" that may occur in this age group....
Forget supplements ā try a bike ride instead. Studies show exercise is the ultimate anti-aging drug.
Regular physical activity in older age doesnāt just keep you fit ā it may actually stop your immune system from aging.
In a remarkable study published in Aging Cell, researchers tracked 125 long-distance cyclists, some well into their 80s, and discovered they had the immune profiles of people in their 20s.
These senior cyclists maintained high levels of T-cellsākey defenders against infectionsāwhich are typically depleted with age. Professor Norman Lazarus, 82, who co-authored the study and participated as a cyclist, summed it up: āIf exercise was a pill, everyone would be taking it.ā
The key isnāt elite-level performanceāitās simply staying active. The cyclists in the study were part of a group called Audax, regularly riding distances of 100 kilometers or more.
Despite the intensity, researchers say even modest activity that gets you "a little out of puff" can help maintain immune health, muscle strength, and low body fat as you age. Itās a powerful reminder that movement isnāt just medicineāitās one of the best tools we have to age well and stay protected against disease.
learn more https://www.bbc.com/news/health-43308729