Most people have definitely heard and know that it is important to play sports and maintain physical activity at any age. Why does a modern person need to look for an opportunity to fight hypodynamia? What are the scientific proofs that life is movement?
Many studies show that regular exercise strengthens the heart and blood vessels, helps maintain a healthy weight and metabolism, helps increase bone density and strengthens muscles, which is a prevention of osteoporosis and muscle atrophy.
Playing sports promotes the release of endorphins – hormones of happiness, which improve the mood and reduce the level of stress and anxiety. Regular exercise is associated with improved mental health and reduced risk of depression and other mental disorders.
Recent studies show that physical activity has a positive effect on cognitive functions such as memory, attention and problem solving. Sports are associated with improving brain activity and reducing the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.
Many studies confirm that regular physical activity is associated with increased life expectancy. Playing sports helps prevent the development of chronic diseases, improves the general state of health and improves the quality of life.
An American scientist of Australian origin, cytogeneticist Elizabeth Blackburn, while working on researching the mechanisms of cellular renewal, made an outstanding discovery about the existence of a unique enzyme – telomerase. In 2009, this discovery was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine.
Telomerase is an enzyme that controls the lifespan of a cell, its ability to divide and renew itself. Telomerase completes and extends telomeres – the end sections of DNA molecules located at the ends of chromosomes.
At each cycle of cell division, when cells copy their genetic material and divide into two daughter cells, telomeres shorten. Telomere shortening plays an important role in the aging process and limits the number of times a cell can divide.
Restoration of shortened telomeres ensures the stability of chromosomes and prolongs the life of the cell. When telomeres become too short, the cell stops dividing and eventually dies. This is one of the causes of aging and is associated with the occurrence of various age-related diseases.
Some cells, such as stem cells and cancer cells, have permanently active telomerase and can continue to divide and renew themselves an unlimited number of times. The activity of this enzyme essentially makes the cell immortal.
The study of telomeres and their impact on aging and human health is currently an active area of scientific research. Thus, it has been shown that exercise can affect the activity level of telomerase enzymes and possibly contribute to slowing down the shortening of telomeres.
There are many scientific studies that link physical activity with changes in telomere length. Here are some key conclusions:
- Moderate loads and telomeres: moderate exercise such as running, walking, swimming, and cycling can help maintain longer telomeres in cells.
- Intense physical activity and telomeres: high-intensity training can temporarily lead to short-term shortening of telomeres due to increased oxidative activity and cellular stress. However, in the long term, such exercises can help adapt cells and maintain telomere health.
- Regularity and duration: regular and moderate physical activity probably has a more beneficial effect on telomere length than occasional and excessive exercise. Prolonged participation in physical activities may also be associated with longer telomeres.
- Health and aging: physical activity that supports the health of the body as a whole can also contribute to the effect on the length of telomeres and reduce the rate of their reduction. This is due to the fact that healthy cells restore telomeres more effectively and ensure cell longevity.
It is important to understand that the relationship between physical activity and telomeres is still being studied and remains a subject of scientific research. However, sufficient evidence indicates that moderate and regular physical activity can help maintain longer telomeres and contribute to overall health and longevity.
*In January 2017, the book “The telomere effect: a revolutionary approach to living younger, healthier, longer” by Elizabeth Blackburn and psychologist Ellisa Epel was published, which quickly became a bestseller and is still very popular. The materials of this book were used in writing this article and are recommended by the author of the article for independent study.