Exercise effects on physiological function during aging

• Published in: Free radical biology & medicine 2019-02, Vol.132, p.33-41
• Main Authors: Radak, Zsolt, Torma, Ferenc, Berkes, Istvan, Goto, Sataro, Mimura, Tatsuya, Posa, Aniko, Balogh, Laszlo, Boldogh, Istvan, Suzuki, Katsuhiko, Higuchi, Mitsuru, Koltai, Erika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aging - physiology; Animals; Cellular housekeeping; DNA Repair; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Genes, Essential - genetics; Homeostasis; Humans; Mitochondrial dynamics; Oxidation-Reduction; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; VO2max
• ISSN: 0891-5849; 1873-4596
• DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.10.444

The decrease in cognitive/motor functions and physical abilities severely affects the aging population in carrying out daily activities. These disabilities become a burden on individuals, families and society in general. It is known that aging conditions are ameliorated with regular exercise, which attenuates the age-associated decline in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), decreases in oxidative damage to molecules, and functional impairment in various organs. While benefits of physical exercise are well-documented, the molecular mechanisms responsible for functional improvement and increases in health span are not well understood. Recent findings imply that exercise training attenuates the age-related deterioration in the cellular housekeeping system, which includes the proteasome, Lon protease, autophagy, mitophagy, and DNA repair systems, which beneficially impacts multiple organ functions. Accumulating evidence suggests that exercise lessens the deleterious effects of aging. However, it seems unlikely that systemic effects are mediated through a specific biomarker. Rather, complex multifactorial mechanisms are involved to maintain homeostatic functions that tend to decline with age. [Display omitted] •Mitochondria, influences the beneficial effects of the optimal VO2max in mortality and well-being.•Regular exercise increases the activity of cellular housekeeping, for which efficiency declines significantly with aging.•It seems unlikely that systemic effects are mediated through a specific biomarker.•Redox signaling pathways promoting effects of physical exercise, and these pathways are multi branched.