- Health experts say that staying active can contribute to healthy aging in older adults.
- Researchers from California found that physical activity of any intensity can reduce the risk of death in women over 60 years of age.
- Their nationwide study also uncovered more evidence that more sedentary behaviors carry higher mortality risk, regardless of genetic propensity for longevity.
- The authors hope that these findings will encourage older women to be active to reduce the risk of disease and premature death.
In the United States, the National Center for Health Statistics estimates that the life expectancy of men and women is 74.5 years and 80.2 years, respectively. For healthy aging Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that physical activity is key.
To find out if physical activity had an advantage over genetics in promoting longevity, researchers from the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Sciences at the University of California San Diego and other institutions conducted a nationwide study.
After analyzing health data from more than 5,000 older postmenopausal women, researchers found that higher levels of light, moderate, or vigorous physical activity correlated with a lower risk of death from all causes. The findings expanded previous studies that have shown that more sedentary time carries higher health risks.
These associations persisted across different levels of genetic potential to live longer.
“[The] The findings support the importance of increased physical activity (PA) and less sedentary time (ST) in reducing mortality risk in older women, regardless of age. [their] genetic predisposition for longevity,” the researchers wrote.
Their prospective study was recently published in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity.
From 2012 through 2020, UC San Diego researchers analyzed physical activity data from more than 5,000 outpatient women age 63 and older.
Lead author Alexander Posis, MPH, a doctoral student at the San Diego State University/UC San Diego Joint Doctor of Public Health Programexplained the importance of the OPACH study for Today’s medical news:
“Our study used pre-existing data from the Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health Goal (OPACH) study, which is part of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) that began in the early 1990s because women had not been included in many epidemiological studies and clinical trials.
– Alexander Posis, MPH, study lead author
The OPACH study focused on associations between physical activity, cardiovascular diseaseand injury risks. The data generated allowed the researchers to look at physical activity and the risk of mortality, cancer, cognitive decline and physical disability as well.
Other research using the OPACH study found associations with physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and mortality during an average follow-up of 3 years. However, no one had explored any possible genetic influence on these associations.
The UC San Diego study aimed to use a 6-year follow-up and adjust the results with a “weighted genetic risk score (GRS) for longevity.”
Activity, variants and covariates
OPACH participants wore an accelerometer 24 hours a day for 7 consecutive days.
The device measured the amount of time the women spent moving or standing still and the intensity of any activity.
The researchers defined total physical activity “as movement that results in energy expenditure.” They classified PA intensity and ST minutes using predetermined cutoff points applied to accelerometer counts.
Choosing longevity genes
Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) Multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or genetic variants, have been linked to longevity.
The UC San Diego cohort developed a weighted GRS based on three SNPs strongly associated with long life. This metric compared survival to 90 years with death before 90 years.
Covariates and comorbidities
Covariates, or characteristics among study participants, included age, educational level, body mass index (BMI), self-reported health status, and other details. The race of the participants was also a factor, but was limited to white, black and Hispanic ethnicities.
The study also looked at chronic conditions present before or after participation, including cancer, depressionfrequent falls and cardiovascular diseases.
Of the 5,446 women in the sample of this study, 1,022 died during follow-up.
The authors determined that 36% of the total population had a high GRS, 33.1% had a medium GRS, and 30.9% had a low GRS for longevity.
The researchers first found that physical activity, of light or moderate to vigorous intensity, was associated with a lower risk of death, while higher ST was associated with a higher risk of death. Interestingly, these associations persisted regardless of genetic predisposition for longevity.
Interestingly, people with low GRS were younger, more active, and had higher physical functioning scores than the other GRS groups. Those with low GRS were also “more likely to be of black race/ethnicity than the medium and high GRS groups.”
“Our study showed that even if you’re not likely to live long based on your genes, you can still extend your lifespan by engaging in positive lifestyle behaviors, such as exercising regularly and sitting less.” Aladdin H. ShadjabPhD, lead author of the study and an assistant professor in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Sciences, said in a Press release.
Historically, women have been significantly underrepresented in clinical trials. The use of data from the OPACH study was a step forward in inclusive research.
However, the resulting lack of male participation created a limitation in the UC San Diego study’s findings.
“Based on our study design, we couldn’t make any inferences about men. But we hope that future studies will examine these associations in study cohorts that include both men and younger age groups,” Posis said. MNT.
Dr Scott Kaisergeriatrician and director of Geriatric Cognitive Health at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. MNT the work is a “study well done [… with] lots of great data.” However, he cautioned that the current study is an association study and is not designed to prove cause and effect.
“I think this just supports a growing body of evidence that our genes are not our destiny. […] It shows that there is a stronger association between longevity and physical activity than [with] genetics,” said Dr. Kaiser.
Noting that the current study focused only on certain markers of longevity, Dr. Kaiser added that researchers need to determine other similar factors. For example, he said that the SNPs used to calculate GRS were more common among people of European descent.
is ‘sedentary‘ a misnomer?
Dr. Kaiser said that the term “sedentary time” might not be appropriate. He doesn’t take into account people who can’t walk but can still do other physical activities, such as chair exercises.
“It’s about whether you just have some consistent physical activity versus someone who is generally physically inactive,” he said.
Dr. Kaiser hopes the public understands that genetics does not trump a healthy lifestyle in reducing the risk of disease and mortality.
“When it comes to healthy aging, exercise it is the closest thing we have to a miracle drug,” he said.
“The whole take of this [study] is that even if you could go to your doctor and have a sophisticated genetic test to see whether or not you have longevity markers, it doesn’t matter as much as whether you get off the couch and exercise regularly.”
– Dr. Scott Kaiser, geriatrician and director of Geriatric Cognitive Health at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, CA
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