Exercise Hormones Linked to Biological Age

Hormones released after exercise may be used to predict biological age, according to a new study.

New research has revealed a link between the aging process and Irisin, a hormone released from the muscle after exercise. This hormone has also been shown to reprogram the body's fat cells to burn energy instead of storing it. Previous studies reveal that Irisin has the potential to prevent obesity and diabetes by increasing metabolic rate.

The latest study reveals that Irisin levels in the blood can predict telomere length. Telomeres are protective caps found at the end of chromosomes that shorten as cells in the body replicate. Telomeres shorten with age, and its length has bee linked to disease like cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

The latest study involved 81 healthy participants aged 18 to 83 years old. None of the participants at the beginning of the study were obese, pregnant, type 2 diabetic, diagnosed with cancer or immune disorder.

Participants were asked to refrain from exercise for at least 12 hours and eating eight hours before recruitment.

The findings revealed that people who had higher levels of Irisin had longer telomeres. Researchers said the latest findings suggest that there is a molecular link between keeping active and healthy aging as people with higher Irisin levels were more "biological young" than those with lower levels of the hormone.

"Exercise is known to have wide ranging benefits, from cardiovascular protection to weight loss. Recent research has suggested that exercise can protect people from both physical and mental decline with ageing. Our latest findings now provide a potential molecular link between keeping active and a healthy ageing process," Dr. James Brown from Aston's Research Center for Healthy Ageing at Aston University said in a news release.

The findings are published in the journal Age.