Exercise linked to "younger" DNA

[nhboy (Premo)]

"PHILADELPHIA — As if gray hair, brittle bones and wrinkles weren't bad enough, scientists say that as you age the very DNA in your trillions of cells starts to fray, unravel and disintegrate.

Now there may be something you can do to slow the inevitable: exercise.

A study published Monday hints that fitness buffs appear to have "younger" DNA than the chronically sedentary. The finding could help scientists understand the effects of exercise and aging at a molecular level.

Previous research has shown that being physically active reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases, potentially extending longevity.

The study's authors examined just the ends of DNA strands. Called telomeres, these act something like the plastic caps on shoelaces, preventing the DNA in chromosomes from unraveling."

Nation & World | Exercise linked to "younger" DNA | Seattle Times Newspaper