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Physical activity during leisure time 'reduces ageing'

29/01/2008

People who are physically active during their leisure time may be biologically younger than those with sedentary lifestyles, a new study suggests.

Researchers from King's College London say inactivity may reduce life expectancy by predisposing people to ageing-related diseases and by influencing the ageing process itself.

They found that biological ageing markers were noticeable, on average, ten years younger in physically active people.

Their study, published today in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, says regular exercisers have lower rates of cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity and osteoporosis.

The researchers studied 2,401 white twins, asking them to fill in questionnaires on physical activity, smoking and socioeconomic status.

DNA was also extracted from blood samples from the participants, allowing the researchers to examine the length of leukocyte telomeres in white blood cells; these progressively shorten over time and may serve as a marker of biological age.

Telomere length-difference between those who were active and those who were less so was noticeable, the researchers said.

The most active subjects had telomeres the same length as sedentary individuals up to ten years younger on average.

Telomere length decreased at an average loss of 21 units per year; men and women who were less physically active in their leisure time had shorter telomeres than those who were more active.

"Such a relationship between leukocyte telomere length and physical activity level remained significant after adjustment for body mass index, smoking, socioeconomic status and physical activity at work," the authors write.

They add that the findings emphasise the need for individuals to follow guidelines on activity levels.

"They 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."