Like any physical activity, it has protective effects against cardiovascular disease and cancer. But what are the biological mechanisms at work?
Brisk walking has long been recognized as a health-enhancing activity. But how exactly does it work? According to an English study, this vigorous practice would have a rejuvenating effect, which would increase life expectancy in good health. Explanations.
Walking is good for health. It’s a physical activity and, not an insignificant fact, it’s accessible to most. “(This practice) makes it possible to train the joints, the muscles, the tendons and the cardiovascular system,” recalls the Quebec Physical Therapy Association.
A British team from the University of Leicester examined the genetic data of more than 400,000 participants in the UK Biobank. This allowed them to compare the condition of their chromosomes, and particularly their telomeres, with their walking habits.
Preserve telomere length with quick strides
Telomeres are sequences of DNA found at the end of chromosomes designed to maintain the integrity of our genetic heritage. These elements wear out inexorably. Every time “a cell copies its DNA before it divides, it loses a small piece of telomere, like a photocopier cutting off the edges of the original document,” Inserm describes. “So much so that this protection wears off eventually… The cell then stops dividing and functioning normally. The researchers speak of senescent cells.” And this phenomenon contributes to the aging of the organism. Because of this, telomere length is a strong marker of biological age, according to scientists.
10 minutes a day
In their work, researchers from the University of Leicester found that participants who were used to walking quickly every day had longer telomeres. At the same age. According to her estimates, “a life of brisk walking could make it possible to be biologically 16 years younger in your forties.” So walking is rejuvenating! And no hours of walk either: “Even 10 minutes a day would be associated with a longer life expectancy”. So on the way!