Stop the clocks: Brisk walking may slow biological aging process (Up to 20 extra years)

Medical Xpress / University of Leicester / Communications Biology ^ | Apr. 21, 2022 | Paddy C. Dempsey et al

[ConservativeMind]

A new study of genetic data published Wednesday April 20 of more than 400,000 UK adults has revealed a clear link between walking pace and a genetic marker of biological age.

Confirming a causal link between walking pace and leucocyte telomere length (LTL)—an indicator of biological age—the Leicester-based team of researchers estimate that a lifetime of brisk walking could lead to the equivalent of 16 years younger biological age by midlife.

Researchers from the University of Leicester studied genetic data from 405,981 middle-aged UK Biobank participants and found that a faster walking pace, independent of the amount of physical activity, was associated with longer telomeres.

Telomeres are the "caps" at the end of each chromosome, and they hold repetitive sequences of non-coding DNA that protect the chromosome from damage, similar to the way the cap at the end of a shoelace stops it from unraveling.

Each time a cell divides, these telomeres become shorter—until a point where they become so short that the cell can no longer divide, known as "replicative senescence." Therefore, scientists consider LTL a strong marker for "biological age," independent from when an individual was born.

Although the relationship between telomere length and disease is not fully understood, the build-up of these senescent cells is believed to contribute to a range of symptoms we associate with aging, such as frailty and age-related diseases.

Researchers from the University of Leicester have previously shown using UK Biobank that as little as 10 minutes of brisk walking a day is associated with longer life expectancy, and that brisk walkers have up to 20 years' greater life expectancy compared to slow walkers.

This new study demonstrates a causal link between brisk walking and telomere length and, significantly, not the other way around.

[ConservativeMind]

Telomeres length is a difficult thing to conserve. I’m not sure how this happens, except it must keep cells from earlier senescence, rather than add length.

[ConservativeMind]

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[BenLurkin]

Had a neighbor in her nineties whom I would see on her walks. “The farther you walk, the longer you live,” she told me.

[plain talk]

I saw an older guy again at the gym doing his walk. Perhaps he is in his 80s. His walking is not that brisk but he gets in several miles at a time. He uses a walking stick for balance I suppose.

[Jane Long]

Ha! Love that.

[Bob434]

i eat a lot of preservatives so i should be golden

[bray]

Walk 30 mins a day plus 27 holes of golf walked and feel great.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Walking poles work your arms, shoulders, chest and upper back muscles through a functional range of motion as you walk — which can help you turn your daily walk into a full-body workout. This activity is sometimes called Nordic walking.

What is Nordic Walking?

[thinden]

Wise woman

[thinden]

Wise woman

[S.O.S121.500]

BOOKbump

[steve86]

I go on long walks to Burger King and McDonald’s.

[sauropod]

.

[weezel]

I’ve been doing that for over 15 years now, everyday except mornings that I go to an auction. I am one of the people that covid was supposed to kill, over 65 with lung problems. I got covid, and felt bad for one afternoon, next morning I was fine.

[FrdmLvr]

I know a woman who used to watch a daily workout show while she ate lunch.

[LouAvul]

I've seen the changes in America these past twenty years. Although I appreciate the advice (I jog on a dreadmill 3 days a week; lift weights 2 days a week), I'm not sure that the next 20 years is going to be something to which we look forward?

Not that I want to pass or anything, but .. 2 Tim 1:12: I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

[Jolla]

I walk 4-5 miles 6 days a week. Have been walking since my hip replacement in 2012. Over 10,000 miles by now.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

!

[steve86]

Serious question: can’t the new hip joint wear out?

[Jolla]

12 years no problem yet, Doc said it should be good for 20 - 25 years.