How to turn back your biological age

Centr has partnered with Lifespan.io, a nonprofit leader in longevity science journalism and advocacy, to bring you the latest research on aging and rejuvenation. Learn more about our partnership below.

Your birthday rolls around once a year, but did you know that the calendar isn’t the only way to measure your age?

Your cells and your DNA reveal the evidence of your biological age – and it’s this wear and tear you can’t see that leads to sickness and death.

So how can you turn back the internal clock? Three takeaways from a Belgian study suggest that eating well and working out are some of the best tools in your arsenal.

1. Healthy living protects your chromosomes. A higher lifestyle score (based on diet, exercise, BMI, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits) was associated with slightly longer telomeres – which act as protective caps on our chromosomes. This is good news, because telomeres usually get shorter as we age, ultimately leading to cell breakdown.
2. A fuller pool of DNA. A stronger lifestyle score was also linked to a greater amount of mitochondrial DNA, which dwindles with age. Lower levels of mitochondrial DNA can indicate mitochondrial dysfunction, which is linked to many age-related disorders.
3. The mind-body connection. Researchers also found that people with unhealthy lifestyles were much more likely to report poor mental health and severe psychological distress was linked to less mitochondrial DNA.

While not conclusive, this study adds to the ever-growing body of evidence that lifestyle factors like diet and exercise are potent anti-aging interventions.

Disclaimer: This Centr content is adapted with permission from articles written by Lifespan.io. The content herein represents Centr’s interpretation of the original source material.

Want to know more about diet, exercise and aging?

• Can the Mediterranean diet cut dementia risk?
• We just found another reason to hit the weights
• Healthspan vs lifespan: is ‘getting old’ inevitable?