Impact of Physical Exercise on Endocrine Aging

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Exercise Physiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Aging leads to endocrine system decline, affecting skeletal muscle mass and function.
• The growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis, including mechano growth factor (MGF), plays a role in muscle maintenance.
• Hormonal responses to exercise in older adults are complex and not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the impact of physical exercise on the aging endocrine system.
• To explore exercise-induced changes in the growth hormone-IGF-1 axis and skeletal muscle.
• To examine the effects of exercise on sex steroid hormones and cortisol in elderly populations.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on exercise, aging, and endocrine function.
• Analysis of research on growth hormone-IGF-1 axis activity and MGF expression.
• Examination of data on circulating and local sex steroid hormones and cortisol levels.

Main Results:

• Physical exercise can restore endocrine activity lost with aging, particularly the growth hormone-IGF-1 axis, promoting anabolic effects in skeletal muscles.
• MGF mRNA increases with high-resistance exercise in young but not elderly individuals.
• Exercise effects on circulating sex steroid hormones are inconsistent; local effects may be more critical for muscle health. Aerobic training may attenuate age-related changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Chronic exercise does not affect cortisol levels in the elderly.

Conclusions:

• Physical exercise is crucial for maintaining the aging endocrine system and skeletal muscle function.
• While exercise impacts various hormones, its influence on local factors like MGF and sex steroid hormones is vital for muscle health in aging.
• Aerobic training can positively modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in older adults.