How does age affect VO2 max?

How does age affect VO2 max?

• A. VO2 max declines with age.
• B. VO2 max increases with age.
• C. VO2 max remains constant with age.
• D. VO2 max improves after mid-life.

Answer: (A)

VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use per minute during intense exercise, reflecting how well the heart, lungs, blood vessels, and muscles work together. As we age, several parts of this system don’t work as efficiently: the maximal heart rate falls, reducing maximal cardiac output; there can be smaller stroke volume and lower mitochondrial density and capillarization in muscle, along with loss of lean muscle mass. All these factors combine to lower the body's ability to take in, transport, and use oxygen at peak effort. In many people, VO2 max declines gradually with age—about 1% per year after early adulthood—with training able to slow the decline and keep VO2 max higher than in untrained individuals.

VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use per minute during intense exercise, reflecting how well the heart, lungs, blood vessels, and muscles work together. As we age, several parts of this system don’t work as efficiently: the maximal heart rate falls, reducing maximal cardiac output; there can be smaller stroke volume and lower mitochondrial density and capillarization in muscle, along with loss of lean muscle mass. All these factors combine to lower the body's ability to take in, transport, and use oxygen at peak effort. In many people, VO2 max declines gradually with age—about 1% per year after early adulthood—with training able to slow the decline and keep VO2 max higher than in untrained individuals.