According to the Journal of the American Heart Association, new research shows exercise by professional athletes triggers anti-aging in heart muscle cells – which has a protective effect against aging of the cardiovascular system.  In technical terms: Telomeres are DNA that protect the two ends of chromosomes from damage. Imagine the ends of a shoelace. The telomere is like the end of the shoelace that protects the lace from fraying; the end caps Telomeres have a shortening mechanism that limit the number of divisions a cell can undergo. This basically defines the life of the cell.

Telomeres gradually shorten from cell division and this shortening leads to aging on the cellular level.

The study found physical exercise by professional athletes leads to the activation of the enzyme telomerase.  Telomerase is important because it stabilizes telomere.

Author of the study, Ulrich Laufs, says, “This is direct evidence of an anti-aging effect of physical exercise. Physical exercise could prevent the aging of the cardiovascular system, reflecting this molecular principle.”  The study examined 32 professional runners from the German National Track and Field Team. Their average age was 20 and their average running distance was 45 miles per week. The study also examined 51 year olds who had a history of continuous endurance exercise since youth, with an average running distance of 50 miles per week.