Can mountain biking improve your immune system?
Being on day 3 of taking care of a kiddo with the flu, my exhausted mind is pondering our immune system. A child can bounce back from a significant illness while older adults tend to get hit hard and fatigue lingers.
Can we, as adults, change this trajectory? Can we continue to build our immune systems as the years pass?
Mountain biking seems to be our answer!
A study published in Aging Cell evaluated the phenomena of immunosenescence as we age.
“Immunosenescence is the gradual deterioration of the immune system, brought on by natural age advancement.”
After we turn 40 our thymus gland begins to degrade which promotes inflammation, increases our changes of autoimmune conditions and weakens our immune system.
However, this exciting article saw that exercise and specifically high endurance cycling made a difference!
In this article, the immune profiles of three groups were compared.
- Adults ranging from 55-79, who had maintained a high level of cycling
- Age matched inactive older adults.
- Sedentary yet healthy young adults in their 20s.
The study found that the older adults engaged in high levels of cycling had a similar immune system response as the healthy young adults!
So is mountain biking the fountain of youth?
In my medical opinion, YES!
The aging body is complex however our ability to respond to, fight infections and bounce back from illness is a massive indicator of longevity. Illness happens, but how you fight and thereby recover from the illness affects your quality of life.
Although this study focused on cyclists rather than mountain bikers, the evidence is undeniable—hopping on your bike doesn’t just enhance your physique; it keeps your immune system resilient and youthful, functioning like that of a 20-year-old.
Keep pedaling!
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