DNA methylation clock DNAmFitAge shows regular exercise is associated with slower aging and systemic adaptation

Abstract

DNAmPhenoAge, DNAmGrimAge, and the newly developed DNAmFitAge are DNA methylation (DNAm)-based biomarkers that reflect the individual aging process. Here, we examine the relationship between physical fitness and DNAm-based biomarkers in adults aged 33–88 with a wide range of physical fitness (including athletes with long-term training history). Higher levels of VO2max (ρ = 0.2, p = 6.4E − 4, r = 0.19, p = 1.2E − 3), Jumpmax (p = 0.11, p = 5.5E − 2, r = 0.13, p = 2.8E − 2), Gripmax (ρ = 0.17, p = 3.5E − 3, r = 0.16, p = 5.6E − 3), and HDL levels (ρ = 0.18, p = 1.95E − 3, r = 0.19, p = 1.1E − 3) are associated with better verbal short-term memory. In addition, verbal short-term memory is associated with decelerated aging assessed with the new DNAm biomarker FitAgeAcceleration (ρ: − 0.18, p = 0.0017). DNAmFitAge can distinguish high-fitness individuals from low/medium-fitness individuals better than existing DNAm biomarkers and estimates a younger biological age in the high-fit males and females (1.5 and 2.0 years younger, respectively). Our research shows that regular physical exercise contributes to observable physiological and methylation differences which are beneficial to the aging process. DNAmFitAge has now emerged as a new biological marker of quality of life.

Organ specificity and commonality of epigenetic aging in low- and high-running capacity rats

“…Previous research has demonstrated the influence of acute and regular exercise on global and gene-specific promoter methylation, primarily in peripheral blood and skeletal muscle 5,6 . Recent findings, including those of our study, also indicate a negative relationship between physical fitness (including activity levels and CRF) and epigenetic aging based on age-related changes in DNA methylation levels at CpG sites [7][8][9][10] . These lines of evidence suggest that exercise exerts a rejuvenating effect on epigenetic aging and has a favorable effect on the aging process.…”

“…This would be consistent with our recent study where we found that standard blood test-based age acceleration largely decreased in male athletes compared to the healthy male controls but did not significantly decrease in female athletes compared to healthy female controls 38 . Other previous study has shown that the age acceleration in the high-fit group was significantly lower than in the medium-to low-fit group for both men and women, but the difference was slightly lower for women 8 . Our previous study also found a significant negative relationship between CRF and age acceleration, but this study included only men 9 .…”

“…Cross-sectional studies in human populations have shown that physical activity and CRF are associated with delayed epigenetic age progression [7][8][9][10] . In mice, late-life exercise training may delay skeletal muscle epigenetic aging via skeletal muscle-specific epigenetic clock(s) 35,36 .…”

Healthy Japanese Dietary Pattern Is Associated with Slower Biological Aging in Older Men: WASEDA’S Health Study

“…Briefly, bisulfite conversion of genomic DNA was performed using the EZ DNA Methylation Kit (Zymo Research, Irvine, CA, USA), followed by hybridization using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip Kit (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). Sample- and probe-based quality checks were performed using the minfi, meffil, and ewastools R packages (14). In this study, all 144 DNA samples met the criteria set by Illumina, and no samples were excluded.…”

“…Accumulating evidence suggests that the epigenetic clock is associated with lifestyle factors, such as body composition (11), physical activity (12,13) and physical fitness levels (14,15), smoking (16), and alcohol intake (16), and can be delayed or reversed by pharmacological and lifestyle interventions (17)(18)(19)(20). It has also been suggested that healthy dietary patterns, diets rich in fruits and vegetables, and mediterranean diets may delay the epigenetic clocks (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26).…”