School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
Exp Gerontol. 2021 May;147:111259. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111259. Epub 2021 Jan 28.
The impact of regular exercise habits at middle-age on muscle mass and function at old age remains inconclusive. While regular exercise likely represents a primary source of health-enhancing physical activity (PA), the physical demand of occupation needs to be considered. Additionally, PA level at old age should be taken into account in order to elucidate true associations between past exercise behaviors and muscle mass and function at old age. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine the impact of regular exercise habits during middle age years on muscle mass and physical function at old age, while considering occupation and objectively assessed PA level at old age.
Self-reported leisure-time PA during middle age years [35-65 years] and present accelerometer-derived PA level were assessed in a population of community-dwelling older women (65-70 years; n = 112). Participants who accumulated at least 600 MET-min of PA per week during middle age years were classified as physically active. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), aerobic fitness and maximal isometric arm and leg strength were determined. Analyses of differences in muscle mass and physical function between physically active and inactive at middle age were adjusted by present PA, adiposity level, and the physical demand of former occupation (sedentary vs manual).
Participants accumulating at least 600 MET-min of exercise-related activities during middle-age years had higher aerobic fitness (P < 0.01) and SMI (P < 0.05) at old age compared to their less active peers. Notably, these beneficial impacts were driven by exercise habits during late middle-age period [50 to 65 years], and remained significant after further adjustment by the physical demand of former occupation and present PA behavior at old age. Finally, middle-age engagement in exercise-related activities had no influence on maximal arm and leg isometric strength at old age.
Our findings highlight the importance of engaging in regular PA of at least moderate intensity during middle age years in order to promote benefits at the level of muscle mass and aerobic fitness. This clearly supports the potential of PA in delaying aerobic capacity impairment and the occurrence of clinically manifest sarcopenia at old age.
中年时期有规律的运动习惯对老年时的肌肉质量和功能的影响仍不确定。虽然有规律的运动可能代表了增强健康的主要体力活动（PA）来源，但需要考虑到职业的体力需求。此外，为了阐明过去的运动行为与老年时的肌肉质量和功能之间的真正关联，还需要考虑老年时的 PA 水平。因此，本研究旨在探讨中年时期有规律的运动习惯对老年时肌肉质量和身体功能的影响，同时考虑到职业和老年时的客观评估 PA 水平。
在一个社区居住的老年女性人群中（65-70 岁；n=112）评估中年时期（35-65 岁）的自我报告的休闲时间 PA 和目前的加速度计衍生的 PA 水平。在中年时期每周积累至少 600 MET-min 的 PA 的参与者被归类为有身体活动能力。测定骨骼肌质量指数（SMI）、有氧适能和最大等长手臂和腿部力量。对中年时活跃和不活跃的参与者在肌肉质量和身体功能方面的差异进行分析，调整了当前的 PA、肥胖水平以及以前职业的体力需求（久坐与体力劳动）。
在中年时期积累了至少 600 MET-min 的运动相关活动的参与者，其老年时的有氧适能（P<0.01）和 SMI（P<0.05）较高，与他们不太活跃的同龄人相比。值得注意的是，这些有益的影响是由中年后期（50 至 65 岁）的运动习惯驱动的，并且在进一步调整以前职业的体力需求和老年时的当前 PA 行为后仍然显著。最后，中年时期进行与运动相关的活动对老年时的最大手臂和腿部等长力量没有影响。
我们的研究结果强调了在中年时期进行至少中等强度的有规律 PA 的重要性，以促进肌肉质量和有氧适能水平的益处。这显然支持了 PA 延缓有氧能力下降和老年时出现临床明显的肌肉减少症的潜力。
