Cardiovascular And Peripheral Factors Affecting The Decay Of Maximal Oxygen Uptake Across The Spectrum Of Age In Humans
As we age, our body’s ability to use oxygen at its maximum capacity, known as maximal oxygen uptake, gradually declines. This decline is a key indicator of our physical fitness and overall health. Traditionally, this reduction has been linked to two main areas: the heart’s diminishing capacity to pump blood (maximal cardiac output) and changes within our muscles, such as muscle loss (sarcopenia) and less efficient energy production at a cellular level (mitochondrial dysfunctions).
A recent analysis, drawing on existing scientific data, delved into these factors to understand their precise contribution to this age-related decline. The findings indicate that the efficiency with which our muscles can extract oxygen from the blood decreases with age. More strikingly, the “peripheral resistance”—essentially, how difficult it is for oxygen to be utilized by the muscles in our limbs—almost doubles between the ages of 20 and 80.
This increase in peripheral resistance appears to be a major player in the observed reduction of maximal oxygen uptake as we get older. In fact, it might even be a more significant factor than the age-related decrease in the heart’s ability to deliver oxygen to the body. This understanding could guide future strategies to maintain physical vitality as we age, potentially by focusing on interventions that improve how our muscles use oxygen.
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