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May 27, 2010
Study: Exercise Can Reduce Cellular Aging
A new study from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) demonstrates that vigorous exercise can reduce the shortening of telomeres, protective bits of DNA that cap the ends of our chromosomes. Shortening of telomeres is a sign of cellular aging. According to co-lead researcher, Dr. Elissa Epel, “Telomere length is increasingly considered a biological marker of the accumulated wear and tear of living, integrating genetic influences, lifestyle behaviors, and stress.” But, in this current study it seems that as little as 42 minutes of vigorous exercise over a consecutive 3-day period is enough to combat cellular aging brought on by psychological stress. The research showed that highly stressed individuals who led sedentary lifestyles had shorter telomeres when compared with active, high stress participants. Therefore, it seems that exercise not only leads to bodily improvements on a larger physical scale, but also has benefits which can be visualized at the chromosomal level. The CDC currently recommends 150 minutes of moderate activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, in addition to weight bearing exercises weekly. Medical News Today