A new(ish) sport has taken America by storm recently. Originally invented in 1965, pickleball has soared in popularity as the fastest growing sport in America for the past four years. Pickleball has proven to be not only an enjoyable pastime, but is also a boon for the aging.
So what is pickleball and who is playing it? Pickleball is a fast-paced paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis in an accessible and enjoyable event that is great for all ages and skill levels. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025 reflecting an unprecedented five-year growth trend of 479% participation increase.
More men are playing the sport than women (57% vs. 43%, according to the SFIA), but participation spans across youth, adults and older players with strong engagement among players age 65 and older.
Danish researchers have revealed that pickleball is one of the best sports for longevity. These Danish researchers tracked 8500 adults for 25 years to determine which sports added years to the player’s life. The gym added a year and a half, while jogging added three years to a person’s life. Surprisingly, racquet sports added nearly 10 years.
But why pickleball? Three things happen when you play. You combine physical activity with social interaction and mental engagement. In 2022, the British Journal of Sports Medicine published research that activities like pickleball can improve balance, coordination, agility and overall functional fitness.
According to Neal K. Shah, the self-proclaimed “America’s Chief Elder Officer” and a Johns Hopkins and NIH-funded healthcare researcher, any sport that forces you on the court with three other people is not just recreation, but is really medicine. Shah explains the three key impacts pickleball has on the human body.
Heart Health
First, playing pickleball benefits heart health. In one study, adults over age 50 played three times per week for six weeks, after which blood pressure dropped, cholesterol improved, and the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise (VO2 max) went up. VO2 max is a key measure of cardiovascular fitness and one of the strongest predictors of how long you’ll live.
Brain Health
Every thrown shot is a splitsecond decision while tracking the ball, the score and your partner. You’re not just moving, you are rewiring your brain. It moves you side to side and forwards and backwards. Exercise floods your brain with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which, according to Shah, is basically fertilizer for new brain cells.
BDNF is a protein essential for the growth, survival and maintenance of brain cells. It promotes neurogenesis (the creations of new neurons), enhances synaptic plasticity (the brain’s ability to reorganize and strengthen connections) and supports executive function and regulates mood, as low BDNF is linked to depression and anxiety.
Exercise triggers BDNF release, through muscle contraction, aerobic activity and fitness. BDNF supports better memory, focus, and problem-solving skills as well as emotional resilience, reducing the risk of depression and anxiety. Even a short, intense aerobic session floods the brain with BDNF, biologically proving why exercise is so critical for brain cells.
Balance and Stability
Pickleball moves you side to side, not just forward and backward. That trains the system your body uses to keep you upright. The court is smaller than traditional tennis, which means there is less wear on your joints.
Researchers believe that the heart, brain and stability benefits are only part of the picture. In the previously mentioned Danish research, the sports that truly showed increased life longevity had one thing in common. They were all sports that you do with other people.
Loneliness: A Public Health Epidemic The U.S. surgeon general has highlighted loneliness as a public health epidemic, citing research that reveals loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by approximately 26%.
Loneliness isn’t just sadness; it carries the same death risk as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The longest study on human happiness, conducted at Harvard for 80 years, reveals your relationships determine how long you’ll live. It is more impactful than your genes, your income or your IQ.
Find Pickleball Locally
Pickleball is available in several locations in Erath County. The Serving Station and Tarleton State University’s Campus Recreation Center both offer locals an indoor, climatecontrolled environment while you can find outdoor courts through the Stephenville Parks & Recreation.
Think about it. One hour that takes care of your heart, your brain and your loneliness. While I have yet to personally pick up a pickleball paddle, I look forward to joining the 24 million Americans playing the sport this year.
Thank you for allowing me to share with you some thoughts on aging. Are there topics you would like to see in future columns? Please just reach out to me at amykeithmcdonald@gmail. com.