Exercise drops off sharply at age 49, study says
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New research says 49 is the age when physical activity markedly declines.
Why it matters: Putting a number on when exercise drops off could encourage people to establish active habits early — before brain changes can make it harder to get moving.
"We've always said this phrase, 'Physical activity declines with age.' It's really nice to be able to put a number to it," said Timothy Morris, an assistant professor of physical therapy, human movement and rehabilitation sciences at Northeastern University.
- Morris co-authored the study, which builds on a body of longevity research showing it's hard to maintain a physically active lifestyle as we age. Some evidence points to ages 44 and 60 as times of accelerated aging.
What they did: Researchers analyzed MRI scans and self-reported activity levels from adults ages 18 to 81. 52% were female and 48% male.
What they found: Physical activity drops off suddenly around age 49.
- The study used data from nearly 600 people in and around Cambridge, U.K., so the findings may not apply broadly.
The big picture: The brain could be partly to blame for a drop in exercise, Morris said.
- When you age, the part of the brain that helps control impulses — the "salience network" — changes.
- So at a certain point, your brain won't naturally "inhibit that desire to sit on the sofa," Morris says.
How can we get motivated to move, despite a desire to stay put?
Start young.
- During childhood is best. Kids who play sports growing up are more likely to be physically active as adults, studies find.
Make it fun.
- Opting to be active simply because it feels good might help you bypass the innate human desire to minimize effort, Morris said.
- Morris is finding preliminary evidence that offering adults "points" for exercising (equivalent to a few cents) gets people out the door. And it seems to be much more effective at getting people moving than reminding them of the health benefits of exercising.
What we're watching: A postdoc in Morris' lab is focused on the connection between exercise and brain changes specific to perimenopause, a topic that's gotten more research and legal attention lately.
