A 47-year study tells us the exact age when your strength and fitness begin to decline, and I’m stunned
Tom's Guide • • health
Key Points:
- A 47-year longitudinal study by Karolinska Institutet, published in 2026, reveals that fitness and strength typically begin to decline around age 35 and gradually worsen with age.
- The study followed several hundred adults aged 16 to 63 over nearly five decades, providing rare insights into how physical performance changes throughout adulthood.
- Despite the decline starting at 35 regardless of prior fitness levels, the research shows that beginning exercise at any age can improve physical capacity by up to 10% and slow further decline.
- Exercise types such as yoga, Pilates, walking, swimming, and cycling are all beneficial, emphasizing that staying active matters even if started later in life.
- The study is ongoing, with plans to re-examine participants
