Scientists reveal the surprising age at which physical ability peaks

Scientists have revealed the surprising age at which physical ability peaks – and it could explain the success of several famous athletes. 

In a new study, researchers from the Karolinska Institute followed more than 400 men and women from ages 16 to 63. 

Over the 47 years, the participants were repeatedly assessed across a range of tests, including aerobic capacity and muscle power. 

An analysis of the results revealed that physical ability actually peaks at the age of 35.

Several elite athletes have reached their peak at this age, including LeBron James and Serena Williams. 

‘It is never too late to start moving,’ said Maria Westerstahl, lead author of the study.

‘Our study shows that physical activity can slow the decline in performance, even if it cannot completely stop it. 

‘Now we will look for the mechanisms behind why everyone reaches their peak performance at age 35 and why physical activity can slow performance loss but not completely halt it.’

We all know that we eventually start slowing down as we age. 

‘Even elite athletes who continue to exercise throughout their life lose physical function as they age,’ the team explained in their study, published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle. 

However, the exact age at which this decline becomes inevitable has been unclear until now. 

To get to the bottom of it, the team enlisted 222 men and 205 women way back in 1974, when they were age just 16. 

Over the next 47 years, the participants regularly completed physical ability tests to assess three key factors – aerobic capacity, muscular endurance, and muscular power.

The aerobic capacity was measured using a cycling or running test, while muscular endurance of the arm and chest muscles was assessed by a bench press test. 

Finally, the muscular power of the legs was measured by a jump test. 

The results revealed that women reached peak aerobic capacity at age 35, while men hit their peak at age 36. 

In the muscular endurance test, the peak for women was age 34, and for men was age 36. 

However, the muscular power test had very different results. 

Men peaked in this test at age 27, while women performed their best at age 19.  

Overall, this suggests that physical ability peaks at the age of 35, according to the researchers. 

‘The main finding was that peak capacity was reached before the age of 36 years and that after the age of ~40 years there was a similar and accelerating decrease in all the tested capacities in both sexes,’ they explained. 

‘After the peak, the annual decrease accelerated from an average of < 1% per year in the first decade to > 2.0% in the last decade of the observation period. 

‘On average, the loss of physical capacity in both sexes was 37% from peak age to age 63, ranging from 30% to 48%.’

The findings are in line with what we see in many sports, with several top athletes hitting their peak around age 35. 

In football, Luka Modric won the 2018 Ballon d’Or at age 33, while Didier Drogba delivered his legendary goal at the Champions League Final 2012 at the age of 34. 

In tennis, Roger Federer won several Grand Slams aged 35–36, while both Serena and Venus Williams hit their peaks in their mid–thirties. 

Meanwhile, in basketball, LeBron James’ 2019–2020 season – at age 35 – saw him win an NBA championship.