Exercise of moderate to vigorous intensity four to five times a week across a lifetime can reduce the stiffening of the arteries and the heart that occurs with aging, according to research by UT Southwestern Medical Center.

People who exercise vigorously six to seven times a week – so-called Masters-level athletes – have hearts that are as pliable as the hearts of young adults.

“We found that a commitment to exercise at a level that gets your heart rate elevated for at least 30 minutes four or five times a week can prevent most of the decrease in left-ventricular elasticity that occurs with sedentary aging,” says Dr. Benjamin Levine, Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Director of the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas, who led the study. The study looked at the exercise history across 25 years of 102 healthy seniors. “This is important because the stiffening of the heart plays a key role in the development of many of the cardiac conditions that affect the elderly, such as hypertension, atrial fibrillation and heart failure.”

Dr. Levine says options for 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise can include classes such as Zumba, kickboxing or aerobics, or informal efforts such as walking or jogging on a treadmill, riding a bike, or swimming laps.

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Media Contact: Cathy Frisinger
214-648-3404
cathy.frisinger@utsouthwestern.edu