A more active lifestyle is one of the best ways to combat some of the effects of aging. Now, a new study has reported a possible link between brisk walking and biological age , as measured by leukocyte telomere length (LTL), one of the biomarkers scientists think we can use to assess speed . at which the human body ages.
Gait and biological age
The research used a wealth of genetic data to show that those who move faster can benefit from a longer lifespan. In 2019, experts from the University of Leicester (UK) showed in a previous study that walking slowly at age 40 was associated with biological markers of accelerated aging. They also previously showed that just 10 minutes of brisk walking a day could increase a person’s life expectancy by up to three years. Now these scientists have harnessed genetic data to confirm what they say is a causal link.
Walking requires no special training or equipment , and the researchers suggest it could be used more often in treatments as a way to improve health when convenient.
“Although we have previously shown that walking pace is a very strong predictor of health status, we have not been able to confirm that adopting a fast walking pace actually leads to better health,” says Tom Yates, a physiotherapist at the University of Leicester. “In this study, we used information contained in people’s genetic profiles to show that a faster walking pace is likely to lead to a younger biological age, as measured by telomeres.”
The importance of telomeres
The experts used the UK Biobank database and obtained records from 405,981 middle-aged people. Their analysis suggested a causal link between brisk walking and telomere length, independent of any physical activity.
The difference between those classified as fast and slow walkers was a difference of 16 years, based on telomere length, the scientists write in their research paper.
“This suggests that measures such as habitually slower walking speed are a simple way to identify people at increased risk of chronic disease or unhealthy ageing, and that activity intensity may play an important role in optimizing interventions,” Paddy said. Dempsey, study leader.
Telomeres are the ends of chromosomes that protect them from damage and, for that reason, are at the center of much research on the effects of aging. As our cells divide, the telomeres shorten and ultimately prevent the cell from dividing further, turning them into what is known as a senescent cell. As we get older, telomeres naturally shorten. Hence, its length is considered a useful marker to measure biological age.
“For example, in addition to increasing the number of steps taken on foot in general, those who can do so might aim to increase the number of steps completed in a given time, for example by walking faster to the bus stop. However, this requires more research ,” the authors note in their study published in the journal Communications Biology.
Referencia: Dempsey, P.C., Musicha, C., Rowlands, A.V. et al. Investigation of a UK biobank cohort reveals causal associations of self-reported walking pace with telomere length. Commun Biol 5, 381 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03323-x
