by Mary Boudreau Conover, BSNed “Advanced age brings with it an acceleration of the decline in mitochondrial content and function. Damage from that decline can be partially restored over the long term with a consistent strength training program.” Read More var addthis_config = {"data_track_addressbar":true}; Advanced age brings with it an acceleration of the decline in mitochondrial content and function. Damage from that decline can be partially restored over the long term with a consistent strength training program. A decline in cardiopulmonary fitness begins to accelerate after 45 years of age more so in people who are disproportionately large, sedentary, and/or smokers. The elderly shy away from exercise, often because they are misinformed and fail to understand that a life without the benefit of strength training leaves the aging individual weak, dependent, and at increased risk for chronic disease. Seniors may also be dealing with balance and stability issues. When balance is a problem, elderly people may not be stable enough on their feet to generate force; strength training will help. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health from 1974 to 2006, involving 20,318 men and women across 32 years, it was shown that strength decline was influenced by lifestyle and associated with risk of diseases and dependent living [7]. No surprises there across all those years! But let’s peel the onion and look at what aggressive, ongoing scientific investigation has revealed about the restorative impact of strength