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May 23, 2007
Exercise really is rejuvenating
A report appearing online on May 23, 2007 in the journal Public Library of Science One (PLoS One) confirmed that exercise actually rejuvenates muscle tissue.
Simon Melov, PhD of the Buck institute and Mark Tarnopolsky, MD, PhD, of McMaster University Medical Center in Hamilton, Ontario conducted gene expression profiles on muscle tissue obtained from 25 healthy older men and women before and after six months of twice weekly resistance training, and compared them with tissue from men and women aged 20 to 35. Although gene expression prior to exercise showed a decline in mitochondrial function compared with the younger adults, exercise reversed the changes back to younger levels. Additionally, strength improved by 50 percent following six months of training, from a level that was 59 percent weaker than the young men and women to only 38 percent lower.
"We were very surprised by the results of the study," Dr Melov commented. "We expected to see gene expressions that stayed fairly steady in the older adults. The fact that their 'genetic fingerprints' so dramatically reversed course gives credence to the value of exercise, not only as a means of improving health, but of reversing the aging process itself, which is an additional incentive to exercise as you get older."
"The vast majority of aging studies are done in worms, fruit flies and mice; this study was done in humans," Dr Melov observed. "It's particularly rewarding to be able to scientifically validate something practical that people can do now to improve their health and the quality of their lives, as well as knowing that they are doing something which is actually reversing aspects of the aging process."
Exercise really is rejuvenating
A report appearing online on May 23, 2007 in the journal Public Library of Science One (PLoS One) confirmed that exercise actually rejuvenates muscle tissue.
Simon Melov, PhD of the Buck institute and Mark Tarnopolsky, MD, PhD, of McMaster University Medical Center in Hamilton, Ontario conducted gene expression profiles on muscle tissue obtained from 25 healthy older men and women before and after six months of twice weekly resistance training, and compared them with tissue from men and women aged 20 to 35. Although gene expression prior to exercise showed a decline in mitochondrial function compared with the younger adults, exercise reversed the changes back to younger levels. Additionally, strength improved by 50 percent following six months of training, from a level that was 59 percent weaker than the young men and women to only 38 percent lower.
"We were very surprised by the results of the study," Dr Melov commented. "We expected to see gene expressions that stayed fairly steady in the older adults. The fact that their 'genetic fingerprints' so dramatically reversed course gives credence to the value of exercise, not only as a means of improving health, but of reversing the aging process itself, which is an additional incentive to exercise as you get older."
"The vast majority of aging studies are done in worms, fruit flies and mice; this study was done in humans," Dr Melov observed. "It's particularly rewarding to be able to scientifically validate something practical that people can do now to improve their health and the quality of their lives, as well as knowing that they are doing something which is actually reversing aspects of the aging process."
