A sedentary lifestyle hastens the accumulation of age-related stress by the time individuals reach 40-45 years of age. This process can be decelerated through consistent physical activity, even for individuals who have previously avoided sports. This is the conclusion drawn by researchers from the University of Oulu, whose findings were published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology (PNE).
The authors investigated the correlation between physical activity later in life and allostatic load. This latter concept quantifies the cumulative physiological “wear and tear” on the body that results from chronic stress.
The study incorporated participants from the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort, who were monitored from early adulthood through to the age of 46.
The level of physical activity was benchmarked against WHO guidelines, which recommend a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity weekly. Subjects reported the frequency of exercises that caused breathlessness and an elevated heart rate. Based on this self-reported data, participants were stratified into four categories: consistently active, persistently sedentary, those whose activity increased over time, and those whose activity decreased over time.
The investigation revealed that individuals who maintained a low activity level over many years exhibited greater allostatic load by age 46. Conversely, participants who remained physically active throughout or began exercising more by middle age did not show any additional buildup of biological stress.
According to the researchers, the critical factor was not a single bout of intense exercise, but rather the constancy of the habit. Even if a person had lived a largely inactive life for a considerable period, resuming regular movement later still allowed them to reduce their stress burden.
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