Reversing the ageing process - BBSRC at the Edinburgh International Science Festival 2005

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 04 Apr 2005 - 1:00 PDT

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Visitors to the Edinburgh International Science Festival will have an opportunity to learn what science can tell us about how our muscles age and what we can do to reverse the effects when the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) visits Ocean Terminal on the first weekend (April 2-3) of the festival.

Researchers funded by BBSRC have found that regular gentle exercise by older people can help them to have the muscle strength of a much younger person. An active 80-year old can have the same muscle strength as a sedentary 20-year old. The research, carried out at Manchester Metropolitan University, showed that a person's muscle structure changes as they grow older and that their tendons stretch more. This makes older people more susceptible to injuries and aching joints. Taking regular light exercise was found to offset this by boosting muscle performance, increasing the stability, strength and power of the participants and by stiffening the tendons to the level of a much younger person.

With increased stability, strength and power older people can remain mobile, independent and active for longer and are less likely to fall and injure themselves.

BBSRC will be at Ocean Terminal during normal opening hours on both Saturday and Sunday with interactive information boards about the research and will be joined by representatives from Age Concern Scotland and Edinburgh Leisure's Get up and go programme who will give suggestions on how older people can lead more active lives and give details of the opportunities for older people to get involved in activities across the Edinburgh area.

Dr Susan Gilchrist from BBSRC said, "We are not suggesting intensive training, but it is worth considering that as we get older a little light exercise can help our muscles stay strong so they can look after us as we continue to age. Visitors to the science festival will be able to see how their muscles change as they get older and what you can do to turn back the muscle ageing clock."

http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/Welcome.html

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