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 |