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Wouldn't it be great if as you got older your muscles got more and more resistant to damage? Well, listen up.

Research published in the Journal Aging and Physical Activity found that older adults don't experience greater muscle damage, soreness or function loss after exercise than younger exercisers do -- and in some instances, they have less damage! For example, creatine kinase levels, an indicator of muscle damage, were approximately 28% lower in older adults at 24 hours post-exercise than in younger folks. And muscle soreness, over several days post-workout, was consistently lower in older adults and muscle function was the same, young or old. As a result, the researchers suggest older adults may not need extended periods of recovery after exercise, allowing them to work out more frequently and more intensely, leading to better long-term health.

Another study in the same journal found that getting regular exercise when you're older also fights off mental fatigue, by reducing stress, improving sleep, lifting your mood, and boosting cognitive function. That's because exercise turns on genes that make new, better-functioning proteins. And additional research advocates combining Brain Endurance Training (BET), which involves systematic repetition of fatiguing cognitive tasks, with exercises like doing a 5-minute rhythmic handgrip using as much force as possible to boost your fitness both physically and mentally.

So, exercise your options for a stronger, healthier you! You'll have more health-boosting proteins running around in you helping you stay younger longer. And get all the support you need from the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com.

Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.longevityplaybook.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@longevityplaybook.com.

(c)2025 Michael Roizen, M.D.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.