By: Alena Kuzub
Thirty-nine-year-old LeBron James is the oldest active NBA player but still one of the top players in the league.
Forty-three-year-old Venus Williams, former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles, celebrated her 30th year on the World Tennis Association Tour last year.
Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in the World Championships history, became the oldest gymnast to win the 2023 U.S. all-around (for the record eighth time) at 26. She is reportedly all set to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Football legend Tom Brady won a Super Bowl at 43 before retiring at 45.
More professional athletes nowadays are pushing perceived age limits of their respective sports and successfully competing against much younger promising rivals.
So, what can we learn from the elite sports stars that would help us stay healthier and fitter well into our 50s, 60s and beyond? The answer is you don’t have to exercise as hard or eat exactly the way pro athletes do, experts say, but you could do things to prevent faster physical mobility decline and get the most out of what you ingest.
Northeastern Global News talked to Northeastern experts to answer these key questions.
What are the keys to longevity?
Longevity depends on a combination of factors, says Carmen Sceppa, dean of Bouvé College of Health Sciences and professor of health sciences at Northeastern, most importantly — on healthy eating and physical activity and exercise.
