don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

"Currency debauchment is a choice. Most governments don't want to debauch their currency - it's just that they don't want to take the actions that might prevent it, because those actions are perceived to be intolerably painful." 
~Bill Wilby, "The Dollar And The Market Mess," The Wall Street Journal, January 23, 2007, p. A25.

Being fit is a choice, too. Most people don't want to be overweight and sick. It's just that they don't want to take the actions -- exercises that enable continued high levels of endurance, strength and flexibility -- because such disciplined actions are perceived as intolerably painful.

All of which leads me to write this essay about exercise and the cells in our bodies. It's not easy, but I am going to refrain from calling exercise a fountain of youth agent. Such restraint goes against my instincts, my personal experience and tons of data that would almost (but not quite) support such a rash statement. But, I am a cautious man, so I am NOT going to declare exercise as a panacea, or a miracle mechanism or a magic potion or an elixir created by a loving Zeus for mankind. No, I won't make such a declaration. But, I was tempted.

The temptation is due to studies that show, time and time again, that exercise, more than anything else (diet patterns, pills, prayers, potions and/or physicians, for instance), has remarkably positive health consequences. Those who exercise vigorously on a regular basis exhibit healthier profiles than those who do not. Not only are they subjected to less cardiovascular risk, less risk for type 2 diabetes and lower risks for mellitus, cancer, hypertension, obesity and osteoporosis but, of greater consequence to wellness enthusiasts, they benefit from higher levels of quality of life. Therein lies the best payoff of exercise, more than enough to compensate for the "intolerable pains" that some (most?) associate with it.

The most recent empirical evidence for an exercise elixir is a study by the Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology Unit at King's College London. It suggests that exercise allows seniors to stay "biologically younger" than their sedentary counterparts. While not a surprise, it is interesting to note how the London researchers came to this conclusion. In four words, they looked at cells.

We think of aging in the context of wrinkles, gray/white or no hair, bent postures and all manner of other obvious external features, but the best indicators of biological, rather than just chronological aging, might be observable at the molecular level. The London study suggests as much. By analyzing telomeres, caps at the end of chromosomes which protect cells from damage, a person's REAL (functional) age can be accurately assessed, it seems.

In the study population of 2,401 identical or fraternal twins, researchers found that telomere length normally decreases steadily with age. However, the London study showed longer telomere length in those who chose regular physical activity. Once again, things go better, not with Coke, as the old ad jingle suggested, but with exercise. Fit people with longer telomeres live longer. Those with short telomeres, noted the London researchers, are vulnerable to cell damage, which causes deterioration, illness and disease. In the words of the study's lead investigator, a sedentary lifestyle "may diminish life expectancy not only by predisposing to age-related diseases but also because it may influence the ageing process itself."

How significant is this in practical terms? The director of the study declared, "Overall, the difference in telomere length between the most active subjects and the inactive subjects corresponds to around nine years of ageing." That seems pretty significant to me. What do you think?

My suggestion? Even if you take the unfortunate view that exercise is "intolerably painful," don't debauch the most important currency you carry about daily - your fitness level. Exercise daily and stretch out those telomeres! Exercise is a wonderful lifestyle choice and, in time, I'm sure you won't find it intolerable or painful. It's not a panacea for whatever does or might ail you, but it's as close as you'll ever come to such a thing, along with looking on the bright side of life. Be well.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of exercise and fitness. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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