The association between weekly exercise patterns and acceleration of aging: Evidence from a population-based study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Accelerated aging presents a significant public health challenge.
• Research has primarily examined specific exercises or overall physical activity levels, with limited focus on weekly exercise patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between distinct weekly exercise patterns and the acceleration of aging in a representative sample of American adults.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 9850 participants (aged ≥20) in the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
• Employed hierarchical clustering to classify individuals into three groups based on weekly exercise frequency and duration.
• Defined accelerated aging as a phenotypic age advancement greater than zero.

Main Results:

• A significant non-linear inverse relationship was observed between weekly exercise volume (time and days) and accelerated aging.
• Optimal risk reduction for accelerated aging occurred at five exercise days and three hours per week.
• Both moderate-frequency/moderate-duration and moderate-frequency/long-duration exercise patterns were significantly associated with reduced accelerated aging.

Conclusions:

• Findings underscore the importance of structured exercise regimens for promoting healthy aging.
• Public health strategies should encourage the integration of consistent physical activity into daily life to enhance longevity and well-being.