BUFFALO, NY- August 20, 2024 – A new #editorial was #published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science), Volume 16, Issue 15 on July 19, 2024, entitled, “Physical fitness and lifestyles associated with biological aging”.

Given the growing aging population worldwide, it is crucial to develop interventional strategies that target aging itself, rather than focusing solely on organ- or disease-based medicine. The geroscience hypothesis, which suggests that delaying aging can prevent the onset of diseases, is gaining traction due to advancements in aging biomarkers, driven by improvements in both measurement techniques (e.g., omics) and analytical technologies (e.g., bioinformatics).

In their editorial, researchers Takuji Kawamura, Radak Zsolt, Mitsuru Higuchi, and Kumpei Tanisawa from the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Waseda University and the Research Center for Molecular Exercise Science at Hungarian University of Sports Science, emphasize the importance of investigating the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the DNA methylation (DNAm) aging clock. Their goal is to establish fitness reference values that could help delay aging. They also discuss their recent report on the "Associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and lifestyle-related factors with DNA methylation-based aging clocks in older men: WASEDA’S Health Study."

"Our study reinforces the geroscience concept that active lifestyle choices may impact quantifiable molecular biomarkers that capture biological aging.”

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206031

Corresponding author - Takuji Kawamura - takuji3@aoni.waseda.jp

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j_MaL8G4eo

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Keywords - aging, DNA methylation, epigenetic clock, physical fitness, anthropometry, blood biochemical parameters, nutritional intake

About Aging-US

The mission of the journal is to understand the mechanisms surrounding aging and age-related diseases, including cancer as the main cause of death in the modern aged population.

The journal aims to promote 1) treatment of age-related diseases by slowing down aging, 2) validation of anti-aging drugs by treating age-related diseases, and 3) prevention of cancer by inhibiting aging. (Cancer and COVID-19 are age-related diseases.)

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Aging (Aging-US)

How Physical Fitness and Lifestyle Impact Biological Aging

BUFFALO, NY — August 12, 2025 — A new #research perspective was #published in Aging (Aging-US) on July 8, 2025, titled “Exercise as a geroprotector: focusing on epigenetic aging.”

In this perspective, led by Takuji Kawamura from Tohoku University, researchers reviewed existing evidence from scientific studies showing that regular exercise, physical activity, and fitness may influence epigenetic aging and potentially reverse it, offering a promising way to extend healthspan and improve long-term health.

Epigenetic aging refers to changes in the body’s DNA that reflect how quickly a person is aging at the molecular level. It is measured using epigenetic clocks, which analyze patterns of DNA methylation, a chemical modification that can affect gene activity. Unlike chronological age, which simply counts the number of years lived, epigenetic aging presents a more accurate picture of how well the body’s cells and tissues are functioning. This process is influenced by various factors, including lifestyle, and has become a powerful tool for studying aging.

This perspective highlights that while general physical activity, such as walking or doing household tasks, offers health benefits, structured exercise routines that are planned, repetitive, and goal-directed appear to have stronger effects on slowing epigenetic aging. Physical fitness, especially high cardiorespiratory capacity, is also closely associated with slower epigenetic aging.

The authors also discuss key findings from both human and animal studies. In mice, structured endurance and resistance training reduced age-related molecular changes in muscle tissue. In humans, multi-week exercise interventions demonstrated reductions in biological age markers in blood and skeletal muscle. One study found that sedentary middle-aged women reduced their epigenetic age by two years after just eight weeks of combined aerobic and strength training. Another study showed that older men with higher oxygen uptake levels, a key measure of cardiovascular fitness, had significantly slower epigenetic aging.

“These findings suggest that maintaining physical fitness delays epigenetic aging in multiple organs and supports the notion that exercise as a geroprotector confers benefits to various organs.”

The research also examines which organs benefit most from exercise. While skeletal muscle has been a central focus, new evidence shows that regular physical training may also slow aging in the heart, liver, fat tissue, and even the gut. In addition, Olympic athletes were found to have slower epigenetic aging than non-athletes, suggesting that long-term, intensive physical activity may have lasting anti-aging effects.

The authors call for further research to understand why some individuals respond more strongly to exercise than others and how different types of training influence aging in various organs. They also point out the importance of developing personalized exercise programs to maximize anti-aging benefits. Overall, the findings support the growing recognition that maintaining physical fitness is not only essential for daily health but may also serve as one of the most effective tools for slowing the body’s internal aging process.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206278

Corresponding author - Takuji Kawamura - takuji.kawamura.b8@tohoku.ac.jp

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Exercise May Slow Epigenetic Aging

BUFFALO, NY — August 19, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published in Volume 17, Issue 7 of Aging (Aging-US) on July 7, 2025, titled “Epigenetic age and accelerated aging phenotypes: a tumor biomarker for predicting colorectal cancer.”

In this study led by Su Yon Jung from the University of California, Los Angeles, researchers found a strong association between accelerated epigenetic aging and an increased risk of colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women. The study also indicated that lifestyle factors influence this risk.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, particularly in people over the age of 50. However, individuals do not all age at the same biological rate. Two people of the same chronological age can differ in their biological aging, which reflects the condition of their cells and tissues. This study focused on a specific measure of biological aging known as epigenetic aging, which is based on chemical changes to DNA.

The researchers used data from the Women’s Health Initiative Database for Genotypes and Phenotypes (WHI-dbGaP), which includes genetic and health information from postmenopausal white women aged 50 to 79. They applied three established “epigenetic clocks” to estimate epigenetic age from blood samples collected up to 17 years before a colorectal cancer diagnosis. These clocks measure how quickly a person is aging at the molecular level by tracking DNA methylation. Women with a higher epigenetic age than expected were significantly more likely to develop colorectal cancer

“[…]we examined biological aging status in PBLs via three well-established epigenetic clocks—Horvath’s, Hannum’s and Levine’s […].”

The study also explored the role of lifestyle in modifying this risk. Women who consumed more fruits and vegetables showed no increased risk, even if they were epigenetically older. In contrast, women with both lower fruit and vegetable intake and signs of accelerated aging were up to 20 times more likely to develop colorectal cancer. This suggests that a healthy diet may help reduce cancer risk associated with biological aging.

Another key finding involved women who had both ovaries removed before natural menopause. These women had a higher epigenetic age and, when combined with accelerated aging, a greater likelihood of developing colorectal cancer. This highlights the potential influence of hormonal and reproductive factors on aging and disease risk.

The researchers validated their findings across several independent datasets, supporting the potential of blood-based epigenetic aging markers as early indicators of colorectal cancer risk. These markers could help guide early detection and prevention strategies in aging populations. However, the authors emphasize the need for independent large-scale replication studies.

Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of the association between epigenetic aging and cancer. It also supports the idea that modifiable lifestyle factors may reduce disease risk, even among those aging more rapidly at the cellular level.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206276

Corresponding author - Su Yon Jung - sjung@sonnet.ucla.edu

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Epigenetic Aging Markers Predict Colorectal Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women

Aging-US is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the biological mechanisms that drive aging and the development of age-related diseases. Our mission is to serve as a platform for high-quality research that uncovers the cellular, molecular, and systemic processes underlying aging, and translates these insights into strategies to extend healthspan and delay the onset of chronic disease.

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New tracks tagged #epigeneticclock