Don't Just Sit There, Aging Away
From EurekAlert!, more on the aging-exercise connection: "Individuals who are physically active during their leisure time appear to be biologically younger than those with sedentary lifestyles ... Regular exercisers have lower rates of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity and osteoporosis ... Inactivity may diminish life expectancy not only by predisposing to aging-related diseases but also because it may influence the aging process itself ... Men and women who were less physically active in their leisure time had shorter leukocyte telomeres than those who were more active .... Oxidative stress - damage caused to cells by exposure to oxygen - and inflammation are likely mechanisms by which sedentary lifestyles shorten telomeres, the authors suggest. In addition, perceived stress levels have been linked to telomere length. Physical activity may reduce psychological stress, thus mitigating its effect on telomeres and the aging process." If you want to maximize your chances of living into the era of radical life extension medicine, it pays to take care of the health basics.
Link: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/jaaj-sla012408.php