2016 Participants
Esther Akpan
Exercise tolerance is the most physical exertion that is achievable by a person before exhaustion. It is a key assessor of heart and blood vessels function in health and disease, and is measured by the peak oxygen consumption during exercise. The aim of my project was to define the effect of age on mechanisms of exercise tolerance. Forty healthy women (20 young and 20 old) underwent gas exchange and blood measurements at rest and during an exercise test. Statistical analysis of the results showed peak oxygen consumption was lower in the older group and it was due to a decreased heart function. As aerobic exercise is a vital component of everyday lives, further studies are needed to identify interventions that will help maintain and improve cardiac function in the older population.
Funding source: Newcastle University
Supervisor: Dr Djordje Jakovljevic