Science And Benefits Of Regular Exercise As We Age

 This week both the New York Times** and Time Magazine had articles on the science and benefits of regular exercise as we age … no matter how old we are when we start! Many of the benefits have been discussed in our previous newsletters but I’d like to share a few new highlights.

In the New York Times piece, they report that a number of scientists believe regular exercise can reverse aging at a cellular level! “Telomeres are the caps on the ends of DNA strands, similar to the caps on shoelaces. Their length decreases with aging, and this contributes to cell senescence, meaning the cells can no longer divide. Telomere length is connected to certain chronic conditions, especially high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease…. Longer telomeres are believed to be a plus for reducing risk of age-related diseases.”

Experts studying dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have found exercise can help slow the effects or possibly prevent the onset of the disease. “Physical activity is now seen as one of the most promising methods for improving cognition throughout life and reducing risk of age-related cognitive decline. While researchers can’t yet say for sure that exercise can actually prevent dementia, studies show that more physical activity is linked to reduced risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.”

They go on to note that movement throughout the day adds up and that a combo of resistance training and aerobic exercise is optimal. Good thing we do both at Vivo! Keep that body moving on your non-Vivo days for healthier cells and a snappier memory. 

-Kristin Dean, Vivo Care Team 

**You may hit a paywall linking to the NYT article if you don’t have a subscription, so we’ve included the Time Magazine link which covers similar information.