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Strength Training Is Linked to Longevity, 30-Year Study Finds
ScienceAlert • • general
Key Points:
- A new study analyzing data from nearly 150,000 US health professionals over 30 years found that 90 to 120 minutes of strength training per week is linked to a 13% lower risk of death from any cause.
- Strength training notably reduced deaths from cardiovascular disease by 19% and neurological conditions, mainly dementia, by 27%, with benefits plateauing beyond two hours per week.
- Combining strength training with at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise weekly lowered mortality risk by around 45%, indicating the two exercise types work best together.
- Muscle plays a key role in longevity by regulating blood sugar, reducing inflammation via myokines, improving cardiovascular health, and supporting brain function, which helps explain the link between resistance training and lower mortality.
- While observational and unable to prove causation, the study suggests achievable exercise guidelines: two weekly full-body strength sessions plus regular aerobic activity can significantly enhance health and lifespan.
