A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland suggests that the relationship between physical activity and lifespan may not be as straightforward as previously thought. While physical activity has long been associated with extended longevity, the study found that the benefits of exercise may be more complex, particularly when factoring in genetic predispositions and biological aging.
The study, which tracked 22,750 Finnish twins born before 1958, aimed to investigate the connection between long-term leisure-time physical activity and mortality, as well as how exercise might offset the risk of disease due to genetic factors. Researchers also sought to explore the relationship between physical activity and biological aging.
Moderate Physical Activity Offers the Greatest Longevity Benefits
The findings, based on physical activity data collected in 1975, 1981, and 1990, with mortality follow-up extending until the end of 2020, revealed that individuals who engaged in moderate activity experienced the greatest benefit in terms of mortality risk reduction. The study categorized participants into four groups: sedentary, moderately active, active, and highly active.
When comparing mortality rates after 30 years, researchers found that those who were moderately active had a 7% lower risk of mortality compared to the sedentary group. However, increasing physical activity beyond moderate levels did not yield additional benefits. In fact, when examining long-term mortality, individuals in the highly active group did not show a lower risk of death than those who were sedentary.
Elina Sillanpää, an associate professor at the Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, explained that an underlying pre-disease state could limit physical activity and ultimately increase mortality risk, rather than the lack of exercise itself. This factor, she notes, can distort the short-term benefits of physical activity on mortality.
Guideline-Adherent Activity Does Not Guarantee Longevity Benefits
In addition to investigating the benefits of physical activity on longevity, the researchers also examined whether adhering to the World Health Organization’s physical activity guidelines—150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity per week—affects mortality rates or genetic disease risk. Despite meeting these guidelines, the study found no significant reduction in mortality risk or impact on genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease.
Postdoctoral researcher Laura Joensuu highlighted that the widely observed positive relationship between physical activity and mortality often stems from observational studies, which can be biased. “Our study aimed to account for various biases, and with a long follow-up period, we could not confirm that meeting the physical activity guidelines mitigates genetic cardiovascular disease risk or causally reduces mortality,” she stated.
A U-Shaped Relationship Between Activity and Biological Aging
The study also examined the relationship between physical activity and biological aging using epigenetic clocks. These clocks measure biological age by assessing the methyl groups that regulate gene expression. The results revealed a U-shaped relationship: individuals who engaged in either the least or most physical activity exhibited accelerated biological aging, while those with moderate levels of activity showed more favorable aging outcomes.
Sillanpää explained that other lifestyle factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, largely accounted for the positive associations between physical activity and biological aging.
Genetic Factors and Mortality Risks
The researchers also examined genetic data from 4,897 twins, focusing on genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease, blood pressure, and other health risks. The study followed all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in 180 identical twin pairs, while biological aging rates were assessed in 1,153 twins. This research was conducted in collaboration with the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences and the Finnish Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Helsinki.
The findings of this study challenge the conventional wisdom that increased physical activity always leads to longer life. While moderate activity remains beneficial, the research indicates that excessive exercise does not provide additional longevity benefits and may not counteract genetic risk factors associated with disease. The study also sheds light on the complexities of biological aging and how lifestyle factors, such as smoking and alcohol use, play significant roles in the aging process.
The research was funded by the Research Council of Finland, the Juho Vainio Foundation, the Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, and the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation.
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