Event Details
Profs and Pints DC presents: “The Science of Longevity,” on what research says about prolonging life, with Ankit Shah, M.D., associate professor of medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, founder and president of Sports & Performance Cardiology, and chief medical officer for USA Swimming.
Most people think exercise is about losing weight, building muscle, or running faster. But what if the greatest benefit of exercise is something much bigger: Helping us live longer and better?
Join internationally recognized sports cardiologist Dr. Ankit Shah for an engaging look at the fascinating science connecting exercise, fitness, and longevity.
Drawing on research involving elite athletes, recreational exercisers, and everyday people, Dr. Shah will explore how exercise changes the heart, brain, muscles, and metabolism—and why these changes can have profound effects on our health as we age.
You’ll learn why cardiorespiratory fitness may be one of the most powerful predictors of long-term health. We’ll look at what the widely used VO2max test of blood oxygen levels during exercise can and cannot tell us about aging, and how exercise can protect against some of the diseases that become more common as we get older.
You’ll also discover whether there really is such a thing as “too much” exercise and how to find the right balance between training hard and recovering well.
Dr. Shah will discuss the optimal amount of exercise to live longer and how athletes get in trouble by assuming that being fit necessarily equals being healthy. He’ll talk about how, when it comes to determining our longevity, the reasons why we exercise can be every bit as important as the amount of exercise we get—a short run to stave off the urge to smoke or drink can pay off more than a long run followed by a cocktail and cigarette.
Come for the science, leave with a better understanding of how to make exercise one of the most powerful tools for a longer, healthier life. (Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.)
Image by Canva.