Physical activity is often associated with long lifespans, but studies of Finnish twins suggest that connections may not be as direct as previously thought. The findings challenge traditional assumptions about exercise and aging.
Researchers at Jyväskylä University looked into how long-term physical activity affects mortality and whether it can counteract the genetic risk of disease. The team also investigated the role of exercise in biological aging.
Experts analyzed 22,750 Finnish twins born before 1958. Their leisure physical activity was assessed in 1975, 1981, and 1990. Researchers followed up mortality data until the end of 2020.
Medium activity will bring you the best benefits
The researchers identified four sedentary, moderately active, active, and highly active activity groups. For over 30 years, the biggest differences were found between the sedentary and moderately active groups.
Moderately active individuals had a 7% lower risk of death. However, the very active group of people did not show any additional benefits.
In the short term, more physical activity is correlated with lower mortality. However, in the long run, very active individuals had no advantage over sedentary individuals.
“The underlying external disorder condition is not a lack of exercise itself, but can limit physical activity and ultimately lead to death,” said Professor Erina Siranpaa, Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences.
“This could be biased towards the relationship between physical activity and mortality in the short term.”
Exercise guidelines and risk of death
Experts also evaluated whether they were following the World Health Organization (Who is) Physical activity guidelines influenced mortality and risk of genetic disease. The WHO recommends moderate or 75-150 minutes of active activity every week.
The results of this study showed that meeting these guidelines did not reduce the risk of death. Even twins who followed the 15-year recommendations showed no significant differences in mortality compared to less active siblings.
“The widely observed and favorable association between physical activity and mortality is based on observational studies that tend to bias from a variety of sources,” said postdoctoral researcher Laura Joensuu.
“Our study aimed to explain the causes of various biases and, combined with long follow-up, failed to confirm that physical activity guidelines mitigate the risk of genetic cardiovascular disease or causally reduce mortality.”
Movement and biological aging
For the twin subset, researchers used epigenetic clocks to analyze biological aging. These clocks estimate biological aging based on chemical markers that regulate gene activity.
The results showed a U-shaped pattern. Both the smallest and most active individuals experienced the experience of accelerated biological aging.
“We found that the association between leisure physical activity and biological aging was U-shaped. Biological aging was accelerated by those who exercised the least amount of exercise,” Silampaa said.
Lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol use played a major role in the link between physical activity and biological aging. This study also examined genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease and blood pressure using polygenic risk scores.
More exercise will not slow down aging
This study challenges the widely held belief that more exercise always leads to longer lifespans.
Physical activity is beneficial for overall health, but its effects on life expectancy are more complicated than previously expected. Medium exercise appears to provide the best balance, but excessive activity does not necessarily lead to longevity.
The findings also highlight the importance of considering other factors, such as lifestyle habits and genetic predispositions. Exercise alone may not be enough to overcome genetic risks. Other aspects of health, such as diet, stress management and avoiding harmful habits, play an important role in aging and longevity.
Future research may further clarify the relationship between physical activity and life expectancy. In the meantime, individuals should aim for a balanced approach to exercise, focusing on overall well-being, rather than simply extending their lifespan.
This study was attended by researchers from the Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences and the Center for Human Sciences Methodology. Jibaskira University. Experts at the Institute of Molecular Medicine in Finland University of Helsinki I contributed.
The results of the survey are published as follows: European Journal of Epidemiology.
– –
Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter for compelling articles, exclusive content and the latest updates.
Check us out on earthsnap, the free app brought to you Eric Rolls and earth.com.
– –
