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Pill-Age
Why we no longer need hordes of barbarians to come rampaging over the hill to kill us
Several years ago I was working at an NIH-funded research institute that was investigating the mechanisms of aging and of age-related diseases. One research team had been looking at the effects of mild-to-moderate weight-bearing exercises on a cohort of people aged between mid-fifties to late-seventies. A regime of 30 minutes, three times per week, induced quite remarkable changes in the gene expression profiles of the experimental group, while the control group who remained largely sedentary with only daily walks as their exercise showed no changes.
The consequences of the shift in gene expression among the experimental group included improved sleep, increase in both muscle mass and bone density, reduction of inflammation, better digestion, and measurably enhanced cognitive performance on a standard battery of tests.
Listening to a summary of the findings, I was thrilled. Here was reasonably good evidence that a simple lifestyle change within the reach of nearly everyone could deliver significant health benefits. Presumably, I thought, the conclusion of the talk will be a recommendation that everyone incorporate moderate weight-bearing exercise in their weekly routine.
