Fitness Friday

Interval Training Can Bridge The Old-Age Gap

High intensity exercise has been found to increase cellular production of proteins for ribosome creation and energy-producing mitochondria.

Exercise does many things; it boosts your immune system, increases oxygen levels to keep you clear headed and sharp, helps you get an improved sleep cycle, improves cardiovascular health and improves your overall lifespan. A study published in Cell Magazine found that high intensity interval training in biking and biking and walking improved intracellular protein production to improve lifespan. Even more importantly, the study's lead researcher Sreekumaran stated that "based on everything we know, there's no substitute for these exercise programs when it comes to delaying the age process".

The study observed 36 men and 36 women between the ages of 18-30 and 65-80 years old. The participants were enrolled in three different exercise programs which included high-intensity interval biking, strength training with weights, and one that included both of the previous programs. After a muscle biopsy, the researchers found a 49% increase in mitochondrial capacity in young adults, while in older adults the increase stood at 69%. The researchers also concluded that activities such as biking increased RNA copies of gene coding for mitochondrial proteins and proteins responsible for muscle growth along with increased production of ribosomes. Further research is currently being conducted to observe any possible further benefits that high-interval activities such as biking may have.