Revisiting The Relationship Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness And Biological Aging: Insights From Dunedinpace Analysis
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to age more gracefully than others, even if they are the same chronological age? It turns out that our “biological age” can differ significantly from our actual years, reflecting the true health and function of our bodies. Scientists are increasingly interested in understanding what influences this biological aging process.
A new study sheds light on this by investigating the connection between how fit your heart and lungs are, known as cardiorespiratory fitness, and your body’s aging speed. To measure this “pace of aging,” researchers used a sophisticated tool called DunedinPACE, which analyzes patterns on your DNA (specifically, DNA methylation) to provide a snapshot of how quickly your body is accumulating age-related changes.
The study focused on older men, examining their cardiorespiratory fitness levels, measured by their peak oxygen uptake (VO₂/kg at peak), and comparing it to their DunedinPACE scores. The exciting finding was that men with higher cardiorespiratory fitness generally showed a slower pace of biological aging.
Even more practically, the research identified a potential fitness target: a VO₂/kg at peak of 26.2 mL/kg/min. Achieving this level of fitness was associated with a slower biological aging rate, suggesting it could be a valuable goal for promoting healthy aging.
This work highlights that maintaining good heart and lung health isn’t just about feeling good; it appears to play a crucial role in slowing down the fundamental biological processes of aging at a cellular level. So, staying active could be a key strategy for a longer, healthier life.
Source: link to paper