Researchers at the University of California San Diego found that genes for longevity may not function without regular physical activity, and people who do not have such genes can live longer with exercise. Article published Journal of Aging and Physical Activity.
Previous research has shown that low physical activity and prolonged sitting are associated with a higher risk of death. However, it was not clear whether the risk changes if a person has certain gene variants associated with a long lifespan.
In 2012, the Women’s Health Initiative’s Objective Study of Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health (OPACH) began measuring the physical activity of 5,446 US women aged 63 and older. Participants wore a special pedometer for up to seven days to measure how much time they spent moving, the intensity of their physical activity, and the time they spent sitting.
Observation ended in 2020. It turns out that prolonged moderate to vigorous exercise is associated with a lower risk of death. A sedentary lifestyle increased the risk of death regardless of the participants’ age or genetic predisposition to longevity.