Final answer:
Maximal speed and agility tend not to be frequently measured in older or general population subjects. Instead, research and assessments prioritize functional fitness over peak performance. There is variation in the aging process impacting physical and cognitive capabilities, with some older adults maintaining high levels of physical activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Maximal speed and agility are not commonly measured in the older or general population subjects as much as in younger or athletic populations. In older adults, the focus often shifts to monitoring and maintaining functional fitness levels suitable for daily living activities, rather than peak performance metrics like maximal speed or agility.
Furthermore, research indicates that in older adults, there is a decline in physical and cognitive abilities due to aging processes, as detected through variations in performance in physical activity. Factors such as reduced muscle mass, changes in sensory perception, and corticostriatal degeneration play roles in the decreased speed and agility observed among the elderly. Despite this, individual variation in the aging process means that some older adults continue to engage in and excel at vigorous physical activity, challenging societal norms.
Health studies, such as the ones conducted by Forstmann and colleagues (2011), and the OECD's PIAAC, typically aim at understanding the broader skill levels and competencies within age groups, focusing on everyday functionalities like literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving, rather than on athletic benchmarks like speed or agility. Therefore, while physiological measurements such as reaction time and aerobic performance do start to decline during middle adulthood and can be recorded for assessment, maximal performance measurements are less frequently the focus of research within the general older population.