Regular exercise keeps your body and brain sharp as you age. It preserves mobility, supports independence, and may slow cognitive decline. New research shows exercise reprograms the body at the molecular level, fundamentally transforming biological systems from the inside out.
Exercise has long been recognized for boosting metabolic health, but the intricate molecular networks behind these benefits were poorly understood. Recent studies have uncovered new layers of complexity in how skeletal muscle and circulating molecules respond to physical activity.
A new paper reviews 20 years of advances in human exercise metabolism, revealing that physical activity can rival medicine in preventing and managing diverse diseases. It maps intricate molecular networks behind exercise’s wide-ranging benefits, outlining key milestones and future research paths. It reveals exercise as a molecular powerhouse, inducing over 1,000 changes across 20+ tissues, rivaling FDA-approved drugs.
Exercise sparks a precise sequence of genes and proteins in muscle, coordinates metabolism and immunity via the bloodstream, and dispatches molecular signals that reach distant organs, revealing effects far beyond simple contraction.
Future molecular biomarkers could predict exercise response based on genetics and metabolism, enabling personalized strategies to prevent, treat, or delay obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. These findings could revolutionize exercise as a tool for disease prevention and treatment.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Twenty years of progress in human exercise metabolism research
Microplastics have become inescapable. We're ingesting them through food and water, and even inhaling them daily. These tiny fossil-fuel-based particles, smaller than 5 mm, have now been detected deep inside human bones, cartilage, and spinal discs. A recent study reveals that microplastics can penetrate bone tissue, including the marrow, where they may disrupt metabolic processes and harm skeletal health.
Ultra-processed foods now make up nearly 60% of calories in the average U.S. adult's diet. These highly manufactured items are increasingly dominating American eating habits. A major U.S. cohort study involving over 100,000 participants, found that those with the highest intake of ultra-processed foods had a 41% greater risk of lung cancer compared to those with the lowest intake.
A landmark $700 million Regenerative Pilot Program, announced jointly by USDA and HHS, aims to assist American producers in adopting sustainable practices that restore soil vitality, protect water resources, sustain long-term yields, and fortify the country's agricultural supply chain.