The Association Between Physical Activity in Leisure Time and Leukocyte Telomere Length

TLDR

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for aging‑related diseases, and leukocyte telomere length serves as a biological marker of human aging. The study tested whether leisure‑time physical activity over the past year is associated with leukocyte telomere length in healthy volunteers. The authors measured telomere length by mean terminal restriction fragment length in 2,401 white twin volunteers and adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking, socioeconomic status, and occupational activity. Higher leisure‑time physical activity was linked to longer telomeres, with the most active participants having LTLs 200 nucleotides longer than the least active, twin pairs discordant for activity showing an 88‑nucleotide difference, and sedentary behavior potentially accelerating aging.

Abstract

Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for many aging-related diseases. Leukocyte telomere dynamics (telomere length and age-dependent attrition rate) are ostensibly a biological indicator of human aging. We therefore tested the hypothesis that physical activity level in leisure time (over the past 12 months) is associated with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in normal healthy volunteers.We studied 2401 white twin volunteers, comprising 2152 women and 249 men, with questionnaires on physical activity level, smoking status, and socioeconomic status. Leukocyte telomere length was derived from the mean terminal restriction fragment length and adjusted for age and other potential confounders.Leukocyte telomere length was positively associated with increasing physical activity level in leisure time (P< .001); this association remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, socioeconomic status, and physical activity at work. The LTLs of the most active subjects were 200 nucleotides longer than those of the least active subjects (7.1 and 6.9 kilobases, respectively; P= .006). This finding was confirmed in a small group of twin pairs discordant for physical activity level (on average, the LTL of more active twins was 88 nucleotides longer than that of less active twins; P= .03).A sedentary lifestyle (in addition to smoking, high body mass index, and low socioeconomic status) has an effect on LTL and may accelerate the aging process. This provides a powerful message that could be used by clinicians to promote the potentially antiaging effect of regular exercise.