Exercise And The Hallmarks Of Cardiovascular Aging
As we age, our cardiovascular system undergoes various changes that can increase the risk of heart disease. These changes are often linked to what scientists call “hallmarks of aging” – fundamental processes that go awry over time. Fortunately, engaging in regular physical activity appears to be a powerful way to counteract many of these age-related declines.
One crucial area exercise impacts is our genetic material. Aging can lead to “genomic instability,” where our DNA gets damaged, and “telomere attrition,” where the protective caps on our chromosomes shorten. Exercise helps by improving DNA repair mechanisms and stabilizing these telomeres, essentially protecting our genetic blueprint. It also positively influences “epigenetic disturbances,” which are changes in how our genes are expressed without altering the DNA sequence itself, ensuring our cells function correctly.
Our cells’ powerhouses, the mitochondria, can become less efficient with age, a condition known as “mitochondrial dysfunction.” Regular movement helps keep these energy producers working optimally. Furthermore, exercise combats “cellular senescence,” a state where cells stop dividing and accumulate, contributing to inflammation and tissue damage. By reducing these “senescent” cells and their harmful secretions, physical activity helps maintain healthier tissues.
Chronic, low-grade inflammation, often called “inflammaging,” is another hallmark of aging that exercise can mitigate. It helps to regulate the body’s inflammatory responses, preventing them from becoming detrimental. Lastly, exercise can improve “proteostasis,” which is the delicate balance of protein production, folding, and degradation within our cells, ensuring proteins function correctly. It also helps regulate “neurohormonal signaling,” the communication system involving hormones and the nervous system that controls heart function and blood pressure.
In essence, staying active helps maintain the health and resilience of our heart and blood vessels by addressing these fundamental aging processes at a cellular and molecular level, promoting a healthier cardiovascular system as we get older.
Source: link to paper