Juan López, the 82-year-old man who impresses scientists: “I started working when I was 11 years old”

Maintaining a strong, healthy physique gets harder with age. After 30, the human body naturally begins losing muscle mass — typically between 3% and 8% per decade — and that decline accelerates over time. By age 60, the loss becomes much more noticeable.

Reaching your 80s with the body of someone in their 30s sounds almost impossible. Yet Juan López, an 82‑year‑old from Spain, is proving that the limits of aging aren’t as fixed as we think. During an interview on the TV program Y ahora Sonsoles, López revealed a physique that looks decades younger — a case scientists are now trying to understand.

According to the program, López still retains 77% of his muscle mass, an extraordinary figure for someone his age. His secret, he says, is simple: consistent physical activity. López continues to train regularly, and that discipline has allowed him to win marathons and even break records. Numerous studies highlight the benefits of regular exercise, showing how steady, controlled activity can improve both physical and mental performance.

Nutrition also plays a key role. Genetics influence how a person’s body ages, but they’re far from the only factor. López’s story has become a source of inspiration for older adults hoping to maintain strength and muscle mass well into their later years.

López’s secret

Exercise and healthy eating are essential for staying fit, but López’s case goes beyond the ordinary. At 82, he maintains a body that could easily pass for that of a man in his 30s — and several universities are now studying him.

His explanation is refreshingly straightforward: “I’ve never smoked, and I’ve always eaten well. My wife has always cooked healthy, simple meals,” he said during the interview.

López began working at age 11 and continued until he retired at 62 after a long career as a mechanic. After retirement, he kept up his physical activity and now encourages others to do the same.

He insists it’s never too late to start moving. Beginning young helps, he says, but when the goal is long‑term health, age is just a number.

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