Physical Activity and Telomere Biology: Exploring the Link with Aging-Related Disease Prevention

Physical activity is associated with reduced risk of several age-related diseases as well as with increased longevity in both rodents and humans. Though these associations are well established, evidence of the molecular and cellular factors associated with reduced disease risk and increased longevit...

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Main Authors: Andrew T. Ludlow, Stephen M. Roth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Journal of Aging Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/790378
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author Andrew T. Ludlow
Stephen M. Roth
author_facet Andrew T. Ludlow
Stephen M. Roth
author_sort Andrew T. Ludlow
collection DOAJ
description Physical activity is associated with reduced risk of several age-related diseases as well as with increased longevity in both rodents and humans. Though these associations are well established, evidence of the molecular and cellular factors associated with reduced disease risk and increased longevity resulting from physical activity is sparse. A long-standing hypothesis of aging is the telomere hypothesis: as a cell divides, telomeres shorten resulting eventually in replicative senescence and an aged phenotype. Several reports have recently associated telomeres and telomere-related proteins to diseases associated with physical inactivity and aging including cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and hypertension. Interestingly several reports have also shown that longer telomeres are associated with higher physical activity levels, indicating a potential mechanistic link between physical activity, reduced age-related disease risk, and longevity. The primary purpose of this review is to discuss the potential importance of physical activity in telomere biology in the context of inactivity- and age-related diseases. A secondary purpose is to explore potential mechanisms and important avenues for future research in the field of telomeres and diseases associated with physical inactivity and aging.
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spelling doaj-art-2a1443be9b9d41c481e490b8cb665a4a2025-02-03T05:52:59ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22122011-01-01201110.4061/2011/790378790378Physical Activity and Telomere Biology: Exploring the Link with Aging-Related Disease PreventionAndrew T. Ludlow0Stephen M. Roth1Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2611, USADepartment of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2611, USAPhysical activity is associated with reduced risk of several age-related diseases as well as with increased longevity in both rodents and humans. Though these associations are well established, evidence of the molecular and cellular factors associated with reduced disease risk and increased longevity resulting from physical activity is sparse. A long-standing hypothesis of aging is the telomere hypothesis: as a cell divides, telomeres shorten resulting eventually in replicative senescence and an aged phenotype. Several reports have recently associated telomeres and telomere-related proteins to diseases associated with physical inactivity and aging including cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and hypertension. Interestingly several reports have also shown that longer telomeres are associated with higher physical activity levels, indicating a potential mechanistic link between physical activity, reduced age-related disease risk, and longevity. The primary purpose of this review is to discuss the potential importance of physical activity in telomere biology in the context of inactivity- and age-related diseases. A secondary purpose is to explore potential mechanisms and important avenues for future research in the field of telomeres and diseases associated with physical inactivity and aging.http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/790378
spellingShingle Andrew T. Ludlow
Stephen M. Roth
Physical Activity and Telomere Biology: Exploring the Link with Aging-Related Disease Prevention
Journal of Aging Research
title Physical Activity and Telomere Biology: Exploring the Link with Aging-Related Disease Prevention
title_full Physical Activity and Telomere Biology: Exploring the Link with Aging-Related Disease Prevention
title_fullStr Physical Activity and Telomere Biology: Exploring the Link with Aging-Related Disease Prevention
title_full_unstemmed Physical Activity and Telomere Biology: Exploring the Link with Aging-Related Disease Prevention
title_short Physical Activity and Telomere Biology: Exploring the Link with Aging-Related Disease Prevention
title_sort physical activity and telomere biology exploring the link with aging related disease prevention
url http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/790378
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