Healthier aging thanks to more exercise
Physical activity in old age improves health and protects against diseases. So far, however, it was unclear what exactly caused this. A mechanism has now been identified that plays an important role in improving fitness and the Preservation of muscle function and movement tolerance could allow in old age.
In a new study involving experts from Harvard Medical School became the role of mitochondrial dynamics during physical activity in the worm species Caenorhabditis elegans. The results are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The fitness of the worms decreased with age
The team analyzed the effects of swimming and crawling on the animals. The researchers observed a typical age-related decline in physical fitnesswhen the animals were in adulthood over a period of 15 days.
In addition, the experts identified a significant, progressive shift towards the aging worms fragmented and/or disorganized mitochondria.
Worms that had reached the first day of adulthood showed fatigue after physical activity for over an hour. In addition, the fragmentation of the mitochondria in the muscle cells of the animals increased. After 24 hours, however, was the power and the Function of the mitochondria restored.
In older animals (fifth and tenth day of adulthood), on the other hand, it was after 24 hours no full return of performance to determine their initial value. The mitochondria of the older animals also went through a cycle of fragmentation and repair, but the reorganization of the network was weaker compared to younger animals, the researchers said.
“We have found that a single exercise session triggers a cycle of fatigue and exercise recovery, which is accompanied by a cycle of mitochondrial network rebuilding‘ explains the author of the study Juliane Cruz Campos in a press release.
Mitochondrial dynamics important for physical fitness
According to the expert, it was shown that Age reduced the extent of the cycle, which was associated with a parallel decline in physical fitness. This suggests that the mitochondrial dynamics an important role for the maintaining physical fitness could play.
the Cycle of fragmentation and repair of mitochondria is of crucial importance for health. When there is a disruption in mitochondrial dynamics, it is with development and progression chronic age-related diseases (e.g. heart disease and type 2 diabetes), according to the research team.
Benefits of long-term training
In another experiment, the worms swam for one hour a day for ten consecutive days from the onset of adulthood. Such a long-term training significantly improved the fitness of middle-aged animals. In addition, the typically occurring during aging Impairment of mitochondrial dynamics mitigated.
The researchers also found that worms with elevated levels of a specific molecule (AMPK) improved physical performance exhibited. AMPK is an important regulator of energy intake during exercise and promotes remodeling of the mitochondrial morphology and metabolism.
In addition, in animals with elevated levels of AMPK, physical performance was maintained during aging but did not increase, the researchers add.
Reduced physical performance due to a lack of AMPK
On the other hand, if the worms lacked AMPK, they had one lower physical performance connected during aging, in addition was also the Impaired animal recovery cycle. In addition, no aging-delaying benefits of physical activity over the lifespan were identified in these worms.
Exercise improves health and quality of life
“An important goal in the field of aging is to find measures that not only increase lifespan but also improve health and quality of life‘ explains the author of the study Professor T Keith Blackwell.
As people age, educate them Decrease in muscle function and movement tolerance a big problem, which with significant morbidity be connected. The new study points to intervention points here preservation of muscle function which is likely to have beneficial effects on other aspects of aging as well.
Further studies should now investigate exactly how the plasticity of the mitochondrial network influences physical fitness, longevity and age-related diseases in humans, says Blackwell. (as)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the requirements of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Sources:
- Juliane Cruz Campos, Luiz Henrique Marchesi Bozi, Barbara Krum, Luiz Roberto Grassmann Bechara, Nikolas Dresch Ferreira, et al.: Exercise preserves physical fitness during aging through AMPK and mitochondrial dynamics; in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (published 2023-01-03), PNAS
- Joslin Diabetes Center: Researchers Shed Light on How Exercise Preserves Physical Fitness During Aging (published 1/4/2023), Joslin Diabetes Center
- Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.