Effect of training on the decline of VO2max with aging.

It has been proposed that continued exercise training may slow the rate of decline of VO2max that occurs as a person ages. Although little evidence has been available in the past to support this belief, recently published data appear to indicate that older persons who maintain their activity levels decrease their VO2max at a rate of 5% per decade rather than the 10% per decade decline found in sedentary persons. It was also believed that men and women over the age of 60 either showed minimal or no increase in VO2max as a result of exercise training. Recent data from our laboratory and others indicate that individuals in this age range can increase their VO2max in response to training and that their adaptive capacity, at least on a relative basis, is similar to that of younger persons. It also appears that older persons may require a lower relative training intensity to elicit increases in VO2max. Thus it appears that older persons can minimize the reduction in VO2max that occurs as they age if they maintain high levels of physical activity and that they retain the ability to adapt to exercise training.