April 9, 2003 (San Diego, CA) Next year, the last of the famed "baby boomers" will have reached age 40. It is a generation that wants to look good, play hard and remain healthy. Americans born between 1946 and 1964 constitute approximately 29 percent of the entire U.S. population and make up almost one-third of all Americans who participate in sports.

But eight years from now, when the first of this group reaches the conventional retirement age of 65, public policy makers will find that a significant number of these new elderly will emulate their parents by abandoning the garden, tennis court, or walking course. They will find that their physical inactivity will decrease, and with unhealthy dietary habits, find themselves at risk for cardiovascular disease and other debilitating disorders.

Although it has been known for quite some time that various behavioral and environmental factors can influence one's regular physical activity level, recent research findings suggest biological mechanisms may also play a role in one's activity patterns. In addition, several studies in humans and animals have found indications that there is a genetic control of one's inherent physical activity level. However, to date there has been no study to suggest potential genetic factors related to one's physical activity level as one ages. Therefore, a new study has been undertaken to investigate the likelihood that physical activity level regulation with aging is controlled, in part, by genetic factors.

A New Study

The authors of "Genetic Influence on Age-Related Changes in Daily Physical Activity Level" are Michael J. Turner, J. Timothy Lightfoot, Mark T. Lindley, and Amber M. Lowe, all from the Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC; and Steven R. Kleeberger, at the Pulmonary Pathobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC. They will present their findi
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Contact: Donna Krupa
djkrupa1@aol.com
703-967-2751
American Physiological Society
9-Apr-2003

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