I found this chart on the Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health Publications. This is a great summary of the effects of aging and exercise on the body.
Exercise vs. aging |
||
| Effect of aging | Effect of exercise | |
| Heart and circulation | ||
| Resting heart rate | Increase | Decrease |
| Maximum heart rate | Decrease | Slows the decrease |
| Maximum pumping capacity | Decrease | Increase |
| Heart muscle stiffness | Increase | Decrease |
| Blood vessel stiffness | Increase | Decrease |
| Blood pressure | Increase | Decrease |
| Blood | ||
| Number of red blood cells | Decrease | No change |
| Blood viscosity (“thickness”) | Increase | Decrease |
| Lungs | ||
| Maximum oxygen uptake | Decrease | No change |
| Intestines | ||
| Speed of emptying | Decrease | Increase |
| Bones | ||
| Calcium content and strength | Decrease | Increase |
| Muscles | ||
| Muscle mass and strength | Decrease | Increase |
| Metabolism | ||
| Metabolic rate | Decrease | Increase |
| Body fat | Increase | Decrease |
| Blood sugar | Increase | Decrease |
| Insulin levels | Increase | Decrease |
| LDL (“bad”) cholesterol | Increase | Decrease |
| HDL (“good”) cholesterol | Decrease | Increase |
| Sex hormone levels | Decrease | Slight decrease |
| Nervous system | ||
| Nerve conduction and reflexes | Slower | Decrease |
| Quality of sleep | Decrease | Increase |
| Risk of depression | Increase | Decrease |
| Memory lapses | Increase | Decrease |
