Human study · Exercise · 19 Oct 2026
In 82 older adults who kept cycling for nine years, peak aerobic capacity still fell about 20 percent
Source: GeroScience
What the research found
Study (longitudinal). Amir S. Fathi, Stephen D. R. Harridge, and colleagues report in GeroScience (2026; DOI 10.1007/s11357-026-02483-6). The public summary attached to a 14 Oct 2026 ScienceDaily brief says 82 older adults who kept cycling were followed for nine years. Peak aerobic capacity fell 19.7 percent on average. Among those who finished the exercise test, nearly all scored at or above the 90th percentile for their age. The summary does not give the sex split or the exact ages. Regular cycling did not freeze aerobic capacity. Not medical advice.
Evidence level: Human study. A study in people, but an association isn't proof of cause.
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