One interesting abstract examined the body of research related to elite athletes and longevity.
This review article examined 54 peer-reviewed manuscripts that addressed the mortality and longevity of elite athletes. Sixteen of these studies examined longevity in MLB players.
I will summarize some of the conclusions from this review.
- MLB players tended to have longer lifespan than controls by up to an average of around 4.5 years
- Players with longer MLB careers tended to have the most extended lifespans
- Some studies found evidence for slighter shorter lifespans for left-handed players than for right-handed players. A handedness effect was not found in some studies.
- Years of education contributed to longevity in MLB players, a finding that has been reported in the general population
- Position played and body weight of MLB players contributed to extended life expectancy with lower weight players showing the greatest mortality benefit
- MLB players were similar to NBA and NFL players in showing an extended longevity compared to the general population. However, NFL players showed higher rates of death due to neurodegenerative disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease
The authors note there are some significant research design issues including potential confounders in this type of research. First, athletic participation at the elite level selects individuals with the highest levels of fitness and health. Additionally, athletes are required to maintain high fitness levels during their playing careers. Many may continue to participate in fitness activities following the end of their career.
Elite athletic participation appears to be associated with increased longevity, although this effect may be tempered if high body weight is required for the sport and the position played.
Readers with more interest in this research can access the free full-text manuscript by clicking on the PMID link in the citation below.
Follow the author on Twitter WRY999
Photo of MLB spring training game is from the author's files.
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