HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Prolonged Sitting Ages DNA

It is widely known that sitting for prolonged periods of time can have adverse health effects. But a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that shortening the amount of time spent sitting could protect aging DNA and even prolong lifespan. Researchers from this study looked at how physical activity lengthens telomeres. Telomeres sit on the "DNA storage units" of each cell, called chromosomes, and stop them from unraveling or clumping together and "scrambling" the genetic codes they contain. In this way, telomeres are similar to the plastic tips on the end of shoelaces, protecting the string-like chromosomes. There is growing concern that not only low physical activity level in populations, but probably also sitting and sedentary behavior, is an important and new health hazard of our time.