💾 Archived View for gmi.noulin.net › mobileNews › 439.gmi captured on 2021-12-05 at 23:47:19. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Leading a sedentary lifestyle may make us genetically old before our time, a
study suggests.
A study of twins found those who were physically active during their leisure
time appeared biologically younger than their sedentary peers.
The researchers found key pieces of DNA called telomeres shortened more quickly
in inactive people. It is thought that could signify faster cellular ageing.
The King's College London study appears in Archives of Internal Medicine.
This conclusion provides a powerful message that could be used by clinicians to
promote the potential anti-ageing effect of regular exercise"
King's College London researchers
An active lifestyle has been linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease,
type 2 diabetes and cancer.
However, the latest research suggests that inactivity not only makes people
more vulnerable to disease, but may actually speed up the ageing process
itself.
The King's team studied 2,401 white twins, asking them to fill out
questionnaires on their level of physical activity, and taking a blood sample
from which DNA was extracted.
They particularly focused on telomeres, the repeat sequences of DNA that sit on
the ends of chromosomes, protecting them from damage.
As people age, their telomeres become shorter, leaving cells more susceptible
to damage and death.
Examining white blood cells from the immune system in particular, the
researchers found that, on average, telomeres lost 21 component parts - called
nucleotides - every year.
But men and women who were less physically active in their leisure time had
shorter leukocyte telomeres compared to those who were more active.
The average telomere length in those who took the least amount of exercise - 16
minutes of physical activity a week - was 200 nucleotides shorter than those
who took the most exercise - 199 minutes of physical activity a week, such as
running, tennis or aerobics.
The most active people had telomeres of a length comparable to those found in
inactive people who were up to 10 years' younger, on average.
Direct comparison of twins who had different levels of physical activity
produced similar results.
Impact of stress
The researchers suggest that physically inactive people may be more vulnerable
to the damage caused to cells by exposure to oxygen, and to inflammation.
Stress is also thought to have an impact on telomere length, and the
researchers suggest people who exercise regularly may help to reduce their
stress levels.
Writing in the journal, the researchers said: "Our results show that adults who
partake in regular physical activity are biologically younger than sedentary
individuals.
"This conclusion provides a powerful message that could be used by clinicians
to promote the potential anti-ageing effect of regular exercise."
In an accompanying editorial, Dr Jack Guralnik, of the US National Institute on
Aging, said more work was needed to show a direct relationship between ageing
and physical activity.
He said: "Persons who exercise are different from sedentary persons in many
ways, and although certain variables were adjusted for in this analysis, many
additional factors could be responsible for the biological differences between
active and sedentary persons.
"Nevertheless, this article serves as one of many pieces of evidence that
telomere length might be targeted in studying ageing outcomes."