How many ages are there?: Chronological, Molecular, Functional
Date: Tuesday, 7 July
Time: 10:15 – 11:45
Session room: Auditorium B
Today a particularly interesting issue is the discrepancy between chronological age and “biological” age. Individuals with the same chronological age can differ significantly in their blood biomarkers, health status and overall functional capacity. This raises the question of how age should truly be defined – and how many different “ages” we can consider. To answer this, the scientific community has focused especially on molecular indicators of aging. The various omics sciences have made it possible to estimate the biological aging of an organism by analysing genes, proteins, metabolites and other molecules.
A key example is provided by epigenetic clocks, which estimate biological age through DNA methylation patterns.
SPEAKERS
Dr Silvano Zanuso
Technogym Scientific Dept.
Edith Cowan University (Perth -AU)
The Concept of Functional Age
Alongside molecular measures, there are functional measures that assess how the organism actually works. These include evaluations of aerobic capacity, flexibility, strength, balance, cognitive abilities and body composition – offering a complementary view of an individual’s biological age.
This value can be obtained throughout a series of tests executed at the Technogym Checkup Station. During the session the rationale behind the measures and tests utilised to produce the WELLNESS AGE index will be presented and explained.
Prof Zsolt Radak
Hungarian University of Sport Science
Budapest, Hungary
Exercise Slows Down the Epigenetic Aging
Although aging is an unavoidable process, its rate is heavily influenced by lifestyle choices. Higher levels of physical fitness are linked to slower aging and among Olympic champions, the difference between chronological age and DNA methylation-based age can be as much as 10 years. While methylation levels of mtDNA are not connected to epigenetic aging, the D-loop methylation level of the Olympic champions (N = 58) was significantly lower than that of non-champions and was associated with better health.
A six-month exercise intervention, meeting the WHO-recommended MET-hours, can slow DNA methylation-based aging by roughly a year in individuals aged 50 to 70. Animal studies show that high-intensity interval training and/or lactate injections influence DNA methylation rates, miRNA expression and protein synthesis. Overall, exercise appears to slow the aging process through DNA methylation, promoting health and well-being.
