Scientists from University College London has found that people who train for and run a marathon for the first time knock off four years from their “blood vessel age”.
The main reasons for this effect on the human body is thought to be lower blood pressure and increased artery flexibility due to endurance training.
According to the study author, Dr Charlotte Manisty, this research highlights the importance of lifestyle modifications to slow the risks associated with ageing. The evidence also proves that it is never too late to bring these modifications into practice, she said.
As we age, our arteries become stiffer, increasing the risk of heart disease, kidney problems and dementia.
While high blood pressure drugs help combat this, not everyone with stiff arteries has hypertension.
In another study, scientists looked at 138 first-time runners who participated in the London race in 2016 or 2017. The participants were healthy and ran a maximum of two hours per week at the start.
The research, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, measured the stiffness of the arteries 6 months before the marathon and then within 3 weeks after the marathon. The results showed that training removed four years off the runner’s aortic age.
Although, the study looked into healthy people, scientists believe that those with high blood pressure and stiff arteries may benefit more from the training.
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