Researchers found that while physical fitness is linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases and mortality, it does not significantly influence mainstream epigenetic clocks, which measure biological age. These clocks are based on DNA methylation patterns in blood samples, and they typically correlate with chronological age. The findings suggest that our understanding of how physical activity affects biological aging may need to be re-evaluated, as the expected connections between fitness levels and biological age are not as strong as anticipated.

For those interested in aging well, this research indicates that while staying active is crucial for overall health and longevity, the relationship between physical fitness and biological age is complex. The study reviewed data from 44 studies involving over 145,000 participants, showing that higher physical activity levels were generally associated with lower biological age as measured by specific epigenetic clocks. However, many individual studies did not find statistically significant results. This means that while being active is beneficial, the exact impact on biological aging isn’t fully understood yet.

The evidence comes mainly from cross-sectional studies, which means they capture a snapshot in time rather than tracking changes over years. This limits our ability to draw definitive conclusions about causation. Future research, particularly longitudinal studies that objectively measure physical activity, is needed to clarify how exercise might influence aging and inform strategies for healthy longevity.

Source: fightaging.org