Effect of physical activity on age-related glucose intolerance

Glucose tolerance tends to deteriorate with age, but a major portion of this deterioration can be explained by changes in other age-related variables--obesity, physical inactivity, use of medications, and chronic illness. This review has focused on the role that physical activity can play in preventing the age-associated decline in glucose tolerance. Pathophysiologically, most of the decline in glucose tolerance appears to be caused by a decrease in insulin action with aging. Given that it has been shown that exercise increases insulin action, there is a plausible biologic mechanism explaining the observed association between physical activity and the preservation of insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance with aging. Finally, it appears from the published data that it is life-long maintenance of physical activity, beginning long before individuals reach the geriatric age group, that will be most beneficial to the health of aging Americans.