Early epigenetic clocks did not consider physical fitness, despite the clear link between fitness and mortality risk. Recent clocks show that fit individuals tend to have a lower biological age. Of all pharmacological interventions attempting to slow aging, exercise still reigns supreme. It is the standard to beat in the longevity industry.
Exercise is a powerful “geroprotector” known to extend health span. Understanding the relationship between physical fitness and biological age through DNA methylation aging clocks is crucial. Studies have shown that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) may be more important than physical activity in delaying aging. Research is ongoing to determine fitness reference values for optimal longevity.
Our study found that maintaining CRF above a specified level was linked to lower epigenetic age acceleration in men, even when adjusting for factors like smoking and alcohol consumption. While CRF’s impact on aging may be modest compared to other lifestyle factors, its maintenance can help delay biological aging.
Exercise scientists are striving to establish a causal link between CRF and biological aging. Longitudinal studies are needed to track changes in CRF and DNA aging clocks over time, along with intervention studies on exercise training. Evidence from mouse and human studies suggests that exercise can slow epigenetic aging, leading to a younger biological profile.
Link: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206031
