Towards ageing well: Use it or lose it: Exercise, epigenetics and cognition

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Epigenetics
• Public Health

Background:

• Increased lifespan (age-span) does not always correlate with improved health (health-span).
• Chronic diseases pose a significant public health challenge globally.
• Lifestyle choices, including physical activity, significantly influence lifespan and health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of physical activity and exercise in promoting healthy aging.
• To discuss the molecular mechanisms, particularly epigenetic changes, through which exercise benefits health.
• To highlight exercise as a key lifestyle intervention for preventing chronic disease and improving quality of life.

Main Methods:

• Review of current scientific literature on physical activity, epigenetics, and aging.
• Discussion of evidence linking exercise to improved health domains across the lifespan.
• Exploration of the potential of exercise-induced epigenetic modifications.

Main Results:

• Physical activity is a readily accessible and effective lifestyle intervention.
• Exercise positively influences the human epigenome.
• Benefits include enhanced cognitive and psychological health, improved muscular fitness, and better overall aging.

Conclusions:

• Physical activity is crucial for improving health-span and achieving healthy aging.
• Epigenetic modifications induced by exercise offer a pathway to mitigate age-related decline.
• Exercise interventions can lead to a higher quality of life in older age.