Epigenetic Insights Of Olympic Champions: Nuclear And Mitochondrial DNA Methylation And Regulators Of Aging
Have you ever wondered if elite athletes age differently? New research suggests that individuals who achieve Olympic champion status may experience a slower rate of biological aging at a cellular level. This isn’t about how many birthdays they’ve had, but rather the actual age of their cells and tissues.
The study looked at something called “epigenetic aging,” which refers to changes in how our genes are expressed without altering the underlying DNA sequence itself. Think of it like the software that runs your body’s hardware. Scientists use “epigenetic clocks” to measure these changes and get a more accurate picture of a person’s biological age.
One key finding was that Olympic champions had lower levels of “DNA methylation” in a specific region of their mitochondrial DNA, known as the D-loop, compared to people who weren’t champions. DNA methylation is a process where chemical tags are added to DNA, which can influence gene activity. Mitochondria are often called the “powerhouses” of our cells, and their DNA plays a crucial role in energy production.
Interestingly, the research also indicated that the methylation patterns in the main DNA within the cell’s nucleus and the DNA within the mitochondria seem to be regulated independently. This suggests that different mechanisms are at play in controlling these aspects of our cellular machinery. The overall implication is that consistent, high-level physical activity from a young age into adulthood may contribute to these beneficial effects on how our bodies age at a molecular level.
Source: link to paper