The Physiology of Aging and Exercise

Aging leads to dysfunction and decline in many tissues and body systems. Declines in physical function with age are mainly due to alterations in neurological, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular functions. The hallmarks of aging denote the molecular and cellular processes that underlie aging physiology. Exercise can target multiple hallmarks of aging at a molecular and systems level, to prevent and in some cases reverse age-related declines. While biological aging is a spectrum that does not always align with chronological aging, even higher risk, frail older adults can benefit from exercise. Thus, understanding the physiology of aging and exercise are essential to appreciate how exercise benefits older adults in various ways.