Does chronological age always match biological age? According to a recent study, 1500 elderly women aged 64 to 95 years who sit for more than 10 hours a day have cells that are biologically older by 8 years compared to women who are more active. These women had shorter telomeres which are found on the ends of DNA strands. These structures protect chromosomes from degradation and normally shorten with age but more progressively with unhealthy lifestyles such as obesity or smoking.
Aladdin Shadyab. Lead author. Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at UC San Diego School of Medicine.
The research was partly funded by the National Institute on Aging.
FOOD, FACTS and FADS 