09/12/2021
Think humans are meant to slow down as we age? Well, think again.
A team of evolutionary biologists and biomedical researchers have laid out evolutionary and biomedical evidence showing that humans evolved to be relatively active in their later years.
The researchers say that physical activity later in life shifts energy away from processes that can compromise health and toward mechanisms in the body that extend it. This guards against chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers.
"It's a widespread idea in Western societies that as we get older, it's normal to slow down, do less, and retire," said Harvard evolutionary biologist, Daniel Lieberman, the paper's lead author. "Our message is the reverse: As we get older, it becomes even more important to stay physically active."