Exercise to Stay Young
Can exercise influence your genetic age?
Maybe, according to a new study by researchers at King’s College London, in the
Researchers looked at the DNA of a group of people, comparing their telomeres according to how much the participants exercised. Telomeres are sequences of DNA found at the end of chromosomes that protect chromosomes from damage. They get shorter and can’t protect as well as people continue to age. The telomeres of those who exercised more in their leisure time were longer than the telomeres of those who didn’t. That led researchers to conclude that people who exercise regularly are biologically younger than those who are sedentary.
So far, researchers aren’t sure what the link is between exercise and telomere length – it could be that sedentary lifestyles increase the risk for inflammation and cell damage, which are associated with aging. Or exercise may lower stress, which other studies have shown can affect telomere length.
How much exercise is enough to get the benefit? The most active people in the King’s College study exercised an average of 199 minutes a week – equivalent to a little less than 30 minutes a day. That’s in line with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which urges 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity exercise, five or more days a week.
– Kenna Simmons
