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. 2020 Apr 1;30(1):8869.
doi: 10.4081/ejtm.2019.8869. eCollection 2020 Apr 7.

Gender difference of aging performance decay rate in normalized Masters World Records of Athletics: much less than expected

Paolo Gava  1 , Walter Giuriati  2 , Barbara Ravara  1   2   3
Affiliations

Gender difference of aging performance decay rate in normalized Masters World Records of Athletics: much less than expected

Paolo Gava et al. Eur J Transl Myol. .

Abstract

Aging behaviours differ in females and males. Females are weaker but survive longer. We report gender decay of skeletal muscle performance by comparing World Records of Master athletes. Master athletes compete in age groups of 5 years until 100 years. The Master World Records are lists of 16 data that, after normalization, show trends of aging decline of muscle performance indicating only minimal gender differences in the process. All trend-lines tend to zero at about 110 years. Since gender hormones poorly influence aging performance decay, other fundamental bioregulators, e.g., those of cell energy metabolism, seems to be relevant.

Keywords: Aging performance decay; Masters World Records; gender differences.

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Conflict of interest statement

We confirm that we have read the Journal’s position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent with those guidelines.

Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Comparison of normalized running parameters of male and female Masters Athletes. Decline of running disciplines is very similar. It is very gentle from 30 to 50 years, it is almost linear from 50 to 70 years and then the decay is progressively steeper.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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