Summary
Large population study revealed that HRV declines rapidly between ages 20-40 in both sexes, but the pattern differs. Men show higher HRV until around age 50, when values converge.
Methods
Cross-sectional analysis of HRV data from 296,000+ participants
Key Findings
- Steepest HRV decline occurs between ages 20-40
- Men have higher RMSSD than women until approximately age 50
- Decline rate slows after age 50 in both sexes
- HRV coefficient of variation increases with age in males after 40
Limitations
Cross-sectional design cannot establish individual trajectories
What This Means for You
Don't compare your HRV to someone 20 years younger. Age-appropriate targets matter. If you're over 40, maintaining HRV becomes more important than chasing high absolute numbers.
Source
Read the original paper in Frontiers in Medicine ↗
Added to HRV Zone: 2025-01-07