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It's well established that aerobic exercise improves health, but a brand new study suggests that higher cardio fitness results in longer life, and that the profit could also be most helpful to older adults. The results were published online on October 19, 2018. JAMA Network Open..
In the study, greater than 120,000 people (59% of them men) underwent periodic exercise treadmill testing over 14 years. Researchers found that increased levels of cardio fitness are directly related to longer life, and that individuals with the best aerobic fitness levels live the longest, especially in people over 70 years of age.
Participants first underwent stress tests and were then classified into five groups based on their current fitness level: elite, high, above average, below average, and low. Elite performers, defined as the highest 2.5% of their age group, had higher aerobic fitness levels than endurance athletes.
When all subgroups were analyzed by age, the association between greater aerobic fitness and longevity was observed in all age groups, however the profit was biggest in those over 70 years of age. Continued to commit to my fitness as I got older. He added that while working on cardio fitness at an older age might be difficult, the payoff appears to be value it.
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