If the elixir of youth does not exist, small everyday gestures can help increase thelife expectancy. In France, the latter amounts to 85.7 years for women and 80 years for men, according to the latest figures from INSEE. To extend lifespan, scientists around the world are working to identify the best levers to put in place. In December 2023, researchers estimated that adopting a healthy diet would save up to 10 years of age.life expectancywhile others highlighted the virtues ofa cup of tea for breakfast.
More recently, researchers from the University Medical Center of Amsterdam and Maastricht (in the Netherlands) discovered that physical activity helps reduce the accumulation of a type of age-related fat. Their results are published in the journal Nature Aging.
The accumulation of a type of fat around certain tissues promotes aging
To arrive at these results, the researchers initially based themselves on a group of mice. Researchers were interested in the accumulation of a type of fat around certain tissues such as muscles, kidneys, liver and heart. The experts noticed that the oldest mice had high levels of a lipid (fat) called “bis(monoacylglycero)phosphates”also known by the acronym BMP.
Then, the researchers wondered if the same phenomenon occurred in humans. After analyzing the results of biopsies in elderly people, they noticed that seniors also presented an accumulation of this type of lipid, “although it was not possible to obtain as many different fabrics”.
Finally, researchers studied how to reduce this fat accumulation. After asking elderly people to incorporate an hour ofphysical activity per day, they noticed that the level of this type of fat decreased in participants who followed the recommendations.
Physical activity would reduce the accumulation of a type of fat around the organs
“The idea that we could reverse aging is something that has long been considered science fiction, but these results allow us to understand much more about the aging process”explains in a press release Riekelt Houtkooper, professor at the laboratory of genetic metabolic diseases at the UMC in Amsterdam. If physical activity has therefore shown its benefits in combating the accumulation of fat around the organs, researchers now wish to study other avenues such as diet.
As a reminder, “Physical activity is the set of body movements produced by the muscles, resulting in an expenditure of energy greater than that spent at rest. It therefore includes in addition to sporting activitiesphysical activities and daily exercises”, specifies Health Insurance. Also, it is recommended to practice 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per weekis around 20-25 minutes per day.
On its website, Health Insurance draws up a list of tips for adopting an active lifestyle:
- prefer the stairs to the elevator and escalators,
- take active breaks of 5 to 10 minutes every 90 minutes,
- travel short distances on foot and not by car,
- go for walks and games if you have children or a pet.
Sources :
- A conserved complex lipid signature marks human muscle aging and responds to short-term exercise – Nature Aging
- Presence of specific lipids indicate tissue ageing and can be decreased through exercise – Amsterdam University Medical Center
- Recommended daily physical exercise and the fight against a sedentary lifestyle – Health Insurance
