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Rate and Mechanism of Maximal Oxygen Consumption Decline with Aging

Implications for Exercise Training

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Abstract

Because of the influence of cardiorespiratory fitness on functional independence, quality of life, and cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, tremendous interest has been directed towards describing the age-related change in maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max). Current evidence supports a 10% per decade decline in V̇O2max in men and women regardless of activity level. High-intensity exercise may reduce this loss by up to 50% in young and middle-aged men, but not older men, if maintained long term. Middle-aged and older women do not appear to be able to reduce loss rates in V̇O2max to less than 10% per decade, which may be related to estrogen status. However, maintaining high-intensity training seems limited to approximately one decade at best and to a select few individuals. While the factors limiting the ability to maintain high-intensity training are not completely known, aging most likely plays a role as studies have demonstrated that training maintenance becomes more difficult with advancing age. Age-related loss of V̇O2max seems to occur in a non-linear fashion in association with declines in physical activity. In sedentary individuals, this non-linear decline generally occurs during the twenties and thirties whereas athletic individuals demonstrate a non-linear decline upon decreasing or ceasing training. Non-linear loss rates are also demonstrated in individuals over the age of 70 years. The decline in V̇O2max seems to be due to both central and peripheral adaptations, primarily reductions in maximal heart rate (HRmax) and lean body mass (LBM). Exercise training does not influence declines in HRmax, while LBM can be maintained to some degree by exercise. Recommendations for exercise training should include aerobic activities utilising guidelines established by the American College of Sports Medicine for improving CV fitness and health, as well as strength training activities for enhancing LBM.

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Acknowledgements

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this manuscript. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this manuscript.

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  1. Department of Kinesiology and Nutritional Science, California State University Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, California, 90032, USA

    Steven A. Hawkins

  2. Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Robert A. Wiswell

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Hawkins, S.A., Wiswell, R.A. Rate and Mechanism of Maximal Oxygen Consumption Decline with Aging. Sports Med 33, 877–888 (2003). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200333120-00002

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