Research continues to show ways in which a more active lifestyle can counteract some of the effects of aging, including the onset of heart damage, memory loss and cognitive impairment.
A new study has found the relationship between walking pace and biological age. The study used a large set of genetic data to show that those who move more quickly can stay healthy for longer, New Atlas reports, citing Communications Biology.
Walking and longevity
In 2019, researchers looked at an interesting study looking at the links between walking speed and health, showing how walking more slowly in your 40s correlates with biological indicators of accelerated aging, such as reduced overall brain volume. Similarly, researchers at the University of Leicester have previously shown that just 10 minutes of brisk walking per day can increase an individual’s life expectancy by up to three years.
In the new study, the researchers took advantage of genetic data to confirm what they say is a causal link, with lead researcher Tom Yates saying: “While we’ve previously shown that walking pace is a very strong predictor of health, we were unable to confirm that adopting a brisk walking pace actually leads to Better health.. In this study we used information from people’s genetic profile to show that walking speed likely actually leads to a younger biological life as measured by telomeres, the coverings at the end of chromosomes that protect them from damage, which is why they are the focus of attention. Lots of research on the effects of aging.”
“When our cells divide, telomeres shorten and eventually prevent the cell from dividing further, turning it into what is known as a senescent cell. That is why telomere length is a useful marker for measuring biological age,” Yates added.
younger biological age
The new study analyzed genetic data from the UK Biobank on more than 400,000 middle-aged adults and compared it to information regarding self-reported walking speeds from activity trackers worn by participants, as part of one of the first studies to Taken together, these factors are studied, establishing a clear link between faster walking and a younger biological age.
Predicting exposure to chronic diseases
The scientists wrote in their paper that the difference between those classified as walking fast and slow was a 16-year difference, according to telomere length. simple to identify people at greater risk of chronic disease or unhealthy aging, and activity intensity may play an important role in improving interventions [لتحسين الحالة الصحية]”.