Physical exercise as an epigenetic modulator: Eustress, the "positive stress" as an effector of gene expression

Cognitive Dysfunction and Exercise: From Epigenetic to Genetic Molecular Mechanisms

Maintaining good health is crucial, and exercise plays a vital role in achieving this goal. It offers a range of positive benefits for cognitive function, regardless of age. However, as our population ages and life expectancy increases, cognitive impairment has become a prevalent issue, often coexisting with age-related neurodegenerative conditions. This can result in devastating consequences such as memory loss, difficulty speaking, and confusion, greatly hindering one's ability to lead an ordinary life. In addition, the decrease in mental capacity has a significant effect on an individual's physical and emotional well-being, greatly reducing their overall level of contentment and causing a significant financial burden for communities. While most current approaches aim to slow the decline of cognition, exercise offers a non-pharmacological, safe, and accessible solution. Its effects on cognition are intricate and involve changes in the brain's neural plasticity, mitochondrial stability, and energy metabolism. Moreover, exercise triggers the release of cytokines, playing a significant role in the body-brain connection and its impact on cognition. Additionally, exercise can influence gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms, leading to lasting improvements in brain function and behavior. Herein, we summarized various genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that can be modulated by exercise in cognitive dysfunction.

Epigenetic modifications in Parkinson's disease: A critical review

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder expected to increase by over 50% by 2030 due to increasing life expectancy. The disease's hallmarks include slow movement, tremors, and postural instability. Impaired protein processing is a major factor in the pathophysiology of PD, leading to the buildup of aberrant protein aggregates, particularly misfolded α-synuclein, also known as Lewy bodies. These Lewy bodies lead to inflammation and further death of dopaminergic neurons, leading to imbalances in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, causing excessive uncontrollable movements called dyskinesias. It was previously suggested that a complex interplay involving hereditary and environmental variables causes the specific death of neurons in PD; however, the exact mechanism of the association involving the two primary modifiers is yet unknown. An increasing amount of research points to the involvement of epigenetics in the onset and course of several neurological conditions, such as PD. DNA methylation, post-modifications of histones, and non-coding RNAs are the primary examples of epigenetic alterations, that is defined as alterations to the expression of genes and functioning without modifications in DNA sequence. Epigenetic modifications play a significant role in the development of PD, with genes such as Parkin, PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), DJ1, Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2), and alpha-synuclein associated with the disease. The aberrant epigenetic changes implicated in the pathophysiology of PD and their impact on the design of novel therapeutic approaches are the primary focus of this review.

Advances in Diet and Physical Activity in Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment

There is currently a growing interest in diets and physical activity patterns that may be beneficial in preventing and treating breast cancer (BC). Mounting evidence indicates that indeed, the so-called Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and regular physical activity likely both help reduce the risk of developing BC. For those who have already received a BC diagnosis, these interventions may decrease the risk of tumor recurrence after treatment and improve quality of life. Studies also show the potential of other dietary interventions, including fasting or modified fasting, calorie restriction, ketogenic diets, and vegan or plant-based diets, to enhance the efficacy of BC therapies. In this review article, we discuss the biological rationale for utilizing these dietary interventions and physical activity in BC prevention and treatment. We highlight published and ongoing clinical studies that have applied these lifestyle interventions to BC patients. This review offers valuable insights into the potential application of these dietary interventions and physical activity as complimentary therapies in BC management.

Oxidative stress and metabolism meet epigenetic modulation in physical exercise

Physical exercise is established as an important factor of health and generally is recommended for its positive effects on several tissues, organs, and systems. These positive effects come from metabolic adaptations that also include oxidative eustress, in which physical activity increases ROS production and antioxidant mechanisms, although this depends on the intensity of the exercise. Muscle metabolism through mechanisms such as aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and oxidative lipid metabolism can produce metabolites and co-factors which directly impact the epigenetic machinery. In this review, we clearly reinforce the evidence that exercise regulates several epigenetic mechanisms and explain how these mechanisms can be regulated by metabolic products and co-factors produced during exercise. In fact, recent evidence has demonstrated the importance of epigenetics in the gene expression changes implicated in metabolic adaptation after exercise. Importantly, intermediates of the metabolism generated by continuous, acute, moderate, or strenuous exercise control the activity of epigenetic enzymes, therefore turning on or turning off the gene expression of specific programs which can lead to physiological adaptations after exercise.

Global scientific trends in research of epigenetic response to exercise: A bibliometric analysis

The purpose of this work is to comprehensively understand the adaptive response of multiple epigenetic modifications on gene expression changes driven by exercise. Here, we retrieved literatures from publications in the PubMed and Web of Science Core Collection databases up to and including October 15, 2023. After screening with the exclusion criteria, 1910 publications were selected in total, comprising 1399 articles and 511 reviews. Specifically, a total of 512, 224, and 772 publications is involved in DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNAs, respectively. The correlations between publication number, authors, institutions, countries, references, and the characteristics of hotspots were explored by CiteSpace. Here, the USA (621 publications) ranked the world's most-influential countries, the University of California System (68 publications) was the most productive, and Tiago Fernandes (14 publications) had the most-published publications. A comprehensive keyword analysis revealed that cardiovascular disease, cancer, skeletal muscle development, and metabolic syndrome, and are the research hotspots. The detailed impact of exercise was further discussed in different aspects of these three categories of epigenetic modifications. Detailed analysis of epigenetic modifications in response to exercise, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and changes in noncoding RNAs, will offer valuable information to help researchers understand hotspots and emerging trends.

Impact of the Exposome on the Epigenome in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients and Animal Models

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that encompass two main phenotypes, namely Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions occur in genetically predisposed individuals in response to environmental factors. Epigenetics, acting by DNA methylation, post-translational histones modifications or by non-coding RNAs, could explain how the exposome (or all environmental influences over the life course, from conception to death) could influence the gene expression to contribute to intestinal inflammation. We performed a scoping search using Medline to identify all the elements of the exposome that may play a role in intestinal inflammation through epigenetic modifications, as well as the underlying mechanisms. The environmental factors epigenetically influencing the occurrence of intestinal inflammation are the maternal lifestyle (mainly diet, the occurrence of infection during pregnancy and smoking); breastfeeding; microbiota; diet (including a low-fiber diet, high-fat diet and deficiency in micronutrients); smoking habits, vitamin D and drugs (e.g., IBD treatments, antibiotics and probiotics). Influenced by both microbiota and diet, short-chain fatty acids are gut microbiota-derived metabolites resulting from the anaerobic fermentation of non-digestible dietary fibers, playing an epigenetically mediated role in the integrity of the epithelial barrier and in the defense against invading microorganisms. Although the impact of some environmental factors has been identified, the exposome-induced epimutations in IBD remain a largely underexplored field. How these environmental exposures induce epigenetic modifications (in terms of duration, frequency and the timing at which they occur) and how other environmental factors associated with IBD modulate epigenetics deserve to be further investigated.

The active grandparent hypothesis: Physical activity and the evolution of extended human healthspans and lifespans

The proximate mechanisms by which physical activity (PA) slows senescence and decreases morbidity and mortality have been extensively documented. However, we lack an ultimate, evolutionary explanation for why lifelong PA, particularly during middle and older age, promotes health. As the growing worldwide epidemic of physical inactivity accelerates the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases among aging populations, integrating evolutionary and biomedical perspectives can foster new insights into how and why lifelong PA helps preserve health and extend lifespans. Building on previous life-history research, we assess the evidence that humans were selected not just to live several decades after they cease reproducing but also to be moderately physically active during those postreproductive years. We next review the longstanding hypothesis that PA promotes health by allocating energy away from potentially harmful overinvestments in fat storage and reproductive tissues and propose the novel hypothesis that PA also stimulates energy allocation toward repair and maintenance processes. We hypothesize that selection in humans for lifelong PA, including during postreproductive years to provision offspring, promoted selection for both energy allocation pathways which synergistically slow senescence and reduce vulnerability to many forms of chronic diseases. As a result, extended human healthspans and lifespans are both a cause and an effect of habitual PA, helping explain why lack of lifelong PA in humans can increase disease risk and reduce longevity.

Astronauts well-being and possibly anti-aging improved during long-duration spaceflight

This study assesses how circadian rhythms of heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV) and activity change during long-term missions in space and how they relate to sleep quality. Ambulatory 48-h ECG and 96-h actigraphy were performed four times on ten healthy astronauts (44.7 ± 6.9 years; 9 men): 120.4 ± 43.7 days (Before) launch; 21.1 ± 2.5 days (ISS01) and 143.0 ± 27.1 days (ISS02) after launch; and 86.6 ± 40.6 days (After) return to Earth. Sleep quality was determined by sleep-related changes in activity, RR-intervals, HRV HF- and VLF-components and LF-band. The circadian amplitude of HR (HR-A) was larger in space (ISS01: 12.54, P = 0.0099; ISS02: 12.77, P = 0.0364) than on Earth (Before: 10.90; After: 10.55 bpm). Sleep duration in space (ISS01/ISS02) increased in 3 (Group A, from 370.7 to 388.0/413.0 min) and decreased in 7 (Group B, from 454.0 to 408.9/381.6 min) astronauts. Sleep quality improved in Group B from 7.07 to 8.36 (ISS01) and 9.36 (ISS02, P = 0.0001). Sleep-related parasympathetic activity increased from 55.2% to 74.8% (pNN50, P = 0.0010) (ISS02). HR-A correlated with the 24-h (r = 0.8110, P = 0.0044), 12-h (r = 0.6963, P = 0.0253), and 48-h (r = 0.6921, P = 0.0266) amplitudes of the magnetic declination index. These findings suggest associations of mission duration with increased well-being and anti-aging benefitting from magnetic fluctuations.

Splice variants of metabolic nuclear receptors: Relevance for metabolic disease and therapeutic targeting

Metabolic nuclear receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors which control a wide range of metabolic processes and signaling pathways in response to nutrients and xenobiotics. Targeting these NRs is at the forefront of our endeavours to generate novel treatment options for diabetes, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease. Numerous splice variants have been described for these metabolic receptors. Structural changes, as a result of alternative splicing, lead to functional differences among NR isoforms, resulting in the regulation of different metabolic pathways by these NR splice variants. In this review, we describe known splice variants of FXR, LXRs, PXR, RXR, LRH-1, CAR and PPARs. We discuss their structure and functions, and elaborate on the regulation of splice variant abundance by nutritional signals. We conclude that NR splice variants pose an intriguing new layer of complexity in metabolic signaling, which needs to be taken into account in the development of treatment strategies for metabolic diseases.

Hypothalamic gene transfer of BDNF promotes healthy aging

The aging process and age-related diseases all involve metabolic decline and impaired ability to cope with adversity. Environmental enrichment (EE)-a housing environment which recapitulates aspects of active lifestyle-exerts a wide range of health benefits in laboratory rodents. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hypothalamus orchestrates autonomic and neuroendocrine processes, serving as one key brain mediator of EE-induced resistance to obesity, cancer, and autoimmunity. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated hypothalamic BDNF gene transfer alleviates obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndromes in both diet-induced and genetic models. One recent study by our lab demonstrates the efficacy and safety of a built-in autoregulatory system to control transgene BDNF expression, mimicking the body's natural feedback systems in middle-age mice. Twelve-month old mice were treated with autoregulatory BDNF vector and monitored for 7months. BDNF gene transfer prevented age-associated metabolic decline by: reducing adiposity, preventing the decline of brown fat activity, increasing adiponectin while reducing leptin and insulin in circulation, improving glucose tolerance, increasing energy expenditure, alleviating hepatic steatosis, and suppressing inflammatory genes in the hypothalamus and adipose tissues. Furthermore, BDNF treatment reduced anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors. This chapter summarizes this work and discusses potential roles that hypothalamic BDNF might play in promoting healthy aging.

Oxidative eustress: On constant alert for redox homeostasis

In the open metabolic system, redox-related signaling requires continuous monitoring and fine-tuning of the steady-state redox set point. The ongoing oxidative metabolism is a persistent challenge, denoted as oxidative eustress, which operates within a physiological range that has been called the 'Homeodynamic Space', the 'Goldilocks Zone' or the 'Golden Mean'. Spatiotemporal control of redox signaling is achieved by compartmentalized generation and removal of oxidants. The cellular landscape of H₂O₂, the major redox signaling molecule, is characterized by orders-of-magnitude concentration differences between organelles. This concentration pattern is mirrored by the pattern of oxidatively modified proteins, exemplified by S-glutathionylated proteins. The review presents the conceptual background for short-term (non-transcriptional) and longer-term (transcriptional/translational) homeostatic mechanisms of stress and stress responses. The redox set point is a variable moving target value, modulated by circadian rhythm and by external influence, summarily denoted as exposome, which includes nutrition and lifestyle factors. Emerging fields of cell-specific and tissue-specific redox regulation in physiological settings are briefly presented, including new insight into the role of oxidative eustress in embryonal development and lifespan, skeletal muscle and exercise, sleep-wake rhythm, and the function of the nervous system with aspects leading to psychobiology.

Exercise-induced immune system response: Anti-inflammatory status on peripheral and central organs

A wide array of molecular pathways has been investigated during the past decade in order to understand the mechanisms by which the practice of physical exercise promotes neuroprotection and reduces the risk of developing communicable and non-communicable chronic diseases. While a single session of physical exercise may represent a challenge for cell homeostasis, repeated physical exercise sessions will improve immunosurveillance and immunocompetence. Additionally, immune cells from the central nervous system will acquire an anti-inflammatory phenotype, protecting central functions from age-induced cognitive decline. This review highlights the exercise-induced anti-inflammatory effect on the prevention or treatment of common chronic clinical and experimental settings. It also suggests the use of pterins in biological fluids as sensitive biomarkers to follow the anti-inflammatory effect of physical exercise.

Effects of exercise cessation on adipose tissue physiological markers related to fat regain: A systematic review

Tissues usually super compensate during the period that follow physical exercise. Although this is widely accepted for muscle and glycogen, the compensatory effect is not usually applied to fat tissues. Notwithstanding, evidence for this has been present since the 1970s when it was first suggested that the increased lipogenic activity in response to training might be an adaptation that enables to restore an energy reserve that can be used in times of need. In this context, the present review aimed to summarize information about the effect of detraining on fat metabolism and the physiological responses associated with fat regain. A systematic search on PubMed and Scielo was performed using "training cessation," "detraining," "exercise detraining," and "exercise cessation" combined with "fat tissue," "adipose tissue," "adipose metabolism," and "fat metabolism," as descriptors. From 377 results, 25 were included in this review, 12 humans and 13 rodents, resulting in a sample of 6772 humans and 613 animals. The analysis provided evidence for fat super compensation, as well as differences in humans and rodents, among different protocols and possible mechanisms for fat gain after exercise cessation. In summary, exercise cessation appears to increase the ability of the adipose tissue to store energy. However, caution should be taken, especially regarding conclusions based on investigations on humans, considering the multiple factors that could affect fat metabolism.

The therapeutic potential of exercise for neuropsychiatric diseases: A review

Exercise is known to have a myriad of health benefits. There is much to be learned from the effects of exercise and its potential for prevention, attenuation and treatment of multiple neuropsychiatric diseases and behavioral disorders. Furthermore, recent data and research on exercise benefits with respect to major health crises, such as, that of opioid and general substance use disorders, make it very important to better understand and review the mechanisms of exercise and how it could be utilized for effective treatments or adjunct treatments for these diseases. In addition, mechanisms, epigenetics and sex differences are examined and discussed in terms of future research implications.

Exercise, redox homeostasis and the epigenetic landscape

Physical exercise represents one of the strongest physiological stimuli capable to induce functional and structural modifications in all biological systems. Indeed, beside the traditional genetic mechanisms, physical exercise can modulate gene expression through epigenetic modifications, namely DNA methylation, post-translational histone modification and non-coding RNA transcripts.

Initially considered as merely damaging molecules, it is now well recognized that both reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS) produced under voluntary exercise play an important role as regulatory mediators in signaling processes. While robust scientific evidences highlight the role of exercise-associated redox modifications in modulating gene expression through the genetic machinery, the understanding of their specific impact on epigenomic profile is still at an early stage. This review will provide an overview of the role of ROS and RNS in modulating the epigenetic landscape in the context of exercise-related adaptations.

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Physical exercise can modulate gene expression through epigenetic modifications.

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Epigenetic regulation of ROS/RNS generating, sensing and neutralizing enzymes can impact the cellular levels of ROS and RNS.

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ROS might act as modulators of epigenetic machinery, interfering with DNA methylation, hPTMs and ncRNAs expression.

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Redox homeostasis might hold a relevant role in the epigenetic landscape modulating exercise-related adaptations.

A simplified enriched environment increases body temperature and suppresses cancer progression in mice

Mice housed in an enriched environment (EE) have inhibited tumor development because of eustress (positive stress) stimulation. However, the mechanisms underlying increased cancer resistance in EEs remain unclear; this may be due to poor reproducibility of the results because of the complicated EE assembly requirements. In this study, we examined the effects of a simplified EE (sEE) model, consisting only of a nesting shelter and a running wheel, on cancer development in mice. We found that, similar to the complex EE, the sEE promoted motor function and alleviated anxiety in mice. Moreover, the mice housed in the sEE showed inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in addition to a higher average body temperature (especially at the point of transition from light to darkness). Furthermore, mice in the sEE had a decreased brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass, with a significant upregulation of the Ucp1 and Adrb3 genes (which encode uncoupling protein 1 and β-adrenergic receptor, respectively) observed in the BAT at the point of transition from light to darkness. An antibody against the immune checkpoint protein programmed cell death 1 was also found to have an additive effect with the sEE against tumor development. Our findings indicate that the established sEE model may be a useful tool for studying the antitumor effects of eustress and can potentially introduce new avenues for cancer prevention and treatment.

Physical activity and laryngeal cancer

Although an active lifestyle physical has been convincingly associated with a decreased risk of developing many forms of cancers, including neck and head malignancies, uncertainty surrounds the relationship between physical activity (PA) and laryngeal carcinogenesis. Epidemiologic evidence, garnered from some well-conducted cross-sectional, prospective and retrospective studies, seemingly attests that the impact of PA may be not so straightforward in lowering laryngeal cancer risk as for other malignancies. Reasonable consensus has been reached that moderate-intensity PA may generate the larger potential benefits, whilst the effect of high-intensity PA appears more controversial and even contradictory. This is mainly attributable to the fact that moderate PA may have more favorable effects than high-intensity exercise in decreasing the impact of some risk factors of laryngeal cancer such as metabolic syndrome, cigarette smoking, inflammation, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Significant biological and psychological benefits from moderate-intensity exercise have also been described in patients surviving from primary laryngeal cancers. This would hence lead us to conclude that promotion of an active lifestyle, characterized by performance of moderate-intensity PA (e.g., between 3 and 6 metabolic equivalents, equaling short distance running), may be beneficial for lowering the risk of developing laryngeal cancer and for improving the quality of life of larynx cancer survivors.

Intensity-Specific Differential Leukocyte DNA Methylation in Physical (In)Activity: An Exploratory Approach

The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate how sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) influence DNA methylation at a global, gene-specific, and health-related pathway level. SB, light PA (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) were assessed objectively for 41 Flemish men using the SenseWear Pro 3 Armband. CpG site-specific methylation in leukocytes was determined using the Illumina HumanMethylation 450 BeadChip. Correlations were calculated between time spent on the three PA intensity levels and global DNA methylation, using a z-score-based method to determine global DNA methylation levels. To determine whether CpG site-specific methylation can be predicted by these three PA intensity levels, linear regression analyses were performed. Based on the significantly associated CpG sites at α = 0.005, lists were created including all genes with a promoter region overlapping these CpG sites. A biological pathway analysis determined to what extent these genes are overrepresented within several pathways. No significant associations were observed between global DNA methylation and SB (r = 0.084), LPA (r = -0.168), or MVPA (r = -0.125), although the direction of the correlation coefficients is opposite to what is generally reported in literature. SB has a different impact on global and gene-specific methylation than PA, but also LPA and MVPA affect separate genes and pathways. Furthermore, the function of a pathway seems to determine its association with SB, LPA, or MVPA. Multiple PA intensity levels, including SB, should be taken into account in future studies investigating the effect of physical (in)activity on human health through epigenetic mechanisms.

Special Issue - Therapeutic Benefits of Physical Activity for Mood: A Systematic Review on the Effects of Exercise Intensity, Duration, and Modality

In contemporary society, people experience considerable stress in their daily lives. Therefore, developing effective approaches and convenient means to cope with their mood problems is important nowadays. Physical activity has been consistently reported as a cost-effective way to improve physical fitness, prevent mental illnesses, and alleviate mood problems. In this systematic review, the effects of exercise intensity, duration, and modality on mood change are discussed. Results show that moderate-intensity anaerobic exercise is associated with greater mood improvements. The relationship between exercise duration and mood change is non-linear; A regime of 10- to 30-minute exercise is sufficient for mood improvements. For exercise modality, anaerobic exercise improves mood, but the efficacy of aerobic and mindfulness-related exercises remains to be further examined. In addition to the systematic review of potential moderators, a narrative review of psychological and neurophysiological theories of exercise effects on mood is provided; we have highlighted the central role of neuroplasticity in integrating the two classes of theories. An adoption of neuroimaging techniques in future research is critical to reveal the mechanisms underpinning the therapeutic influence of physical activity on affective responses. Some future research directions are also raised.

Acquired Resilience: An Evolved System of Tissue Protection in Mammals

This review brings together observations on the stress-induced regulation of resilience mechanisms in body tissues. It is argued that the stresses that induce tissue resilience in mammals arise from everyday sources: sunlight, food, lack of food, hypoxia and physical stresses. At low levels, these stresses induce an organised protective response in probably all tissues; and, at some higher level, cause tissue destruction. This pattern of response to stress is well known to toxicologists, who have termed it hormesis. The phenotypes of resilience are diverse and reports of stress-induced resilience are to be found in journals of neuroscience, sports medicine, cancer, healthy ageing, dementia, parkinsonism, ophthalmology and more. This diversity makes the proposing of a general concept of induced resilience a significant task, which this review attempts. We suggest that a system of stress-induced tissue resilience has evolved to enhance the survival of animals. By analogy with acquired immunity, we term this system 'acquired resilience'. Evidence is reviewed that acquired resilience, like acquired immunity, fades with age. This fading is, we suggest, a major component of ageing. Understanding of acquired resilience may, we argue, open pathways for the maintenance of good health in the later decades of human life.

Epigenetic changes due to physical activity

One of the epigenetic-modifying factors is regular and continuous physical activity. This article attempts to investigate the effects of physical activity and exercise on changes in histone proteins and gene expression, as well as the effect of these exercises on the prevention of certain cancers and the ejection of age-related illnesses and cellular oxidation interactions. All of this is due to epigenetic changes and gene expression. Most studies have reported the positive effects of regular exercises on the expression of histone proteins. DNA methylation and the prevention of certain diseases such as cancer and respiratory diseases, caused by antioxidative interactions that occur more often in the elderly, have been studied.

Aging Hallmarks: The Benefits of Physical Exercise

World population has been continuously increasing and progressively aging. Aging is characterized by a complex and intraindividual process associated with nine major cellular and molecular hallmarks, namely, genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, a loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, and altered intercellular communication. This review exposes the positive antiaging impact of physical exercise at the cellular level, highlighting its specific role in attenuating the aging effects of each hallmark. Exercise should be seen as a polypill, which improves the health-related quality of life and functional capabilities while mitigating physiological changes and comorbidities associated with aging. To achieve a framework of effective physical exercise interventions on aging, further research on its benefits and the most effective strategies is encouraged.

Epigenetic Modifications of the α-Synuclein Gene and Relative Protein Content Are Affected by Ageing and Physical Exercise in Blood from Healthy Subjects

Epigenetic regulation may contribute to the beneficial effects of physical activity against age-related neurodegeneration. For example, epigenetic alterations of the gene encoding for α-synuclein (SNCA) have been widely explored in both brain and peripheral tissues of Parkinson's disease samples. However, no data are currently available about the effects of physical exercise on SNCA epigenetic regulation in ageing healthy subjects. The present paper explored whether, in healthy individuals, age and physical activity are related to blood intron1-SNCA (SNCA_I1) methylation, as well as further parameters linked to such epigenetic modification (total, oligomeric α-synuclein and DNA methyltransferase concentrations in the blood). Here, the SNCA_I1 methylation status increased with ageing, and consistent with this result, low α-synuclein levels were found in the blood. The direct relationship between SNCA_I1 methylation and α-synuclein levels was observed in samples characterized by blood α-synuclein concentrations of 76.3 ng/mg protein or lower (confidence interval (CI) = 95%). In this selected population, higher physical activity reduced the total and oligomeric α-synuclein levels. Taken together, our data shed light on ageing- and physical exercise-induced changes on the SNCA methylation status and protein levels of α-synuclein.

Understanding Personalized Training Responses: Can Genetic Assessment Help?

Background:

Traditional exercise prescription is based on the assumption that exercise adaptation is predictable and standardised across individuals. However, evidence has emerged in the past two decades demonstrating that large inter-individual variation exists regarding the magnitude and direction of adaption following exercise.

Objective:

The aim of this paper was to discuss the key factors influencing this personalized response to exercise in a narrative review format.

Findings:

Genetic variation contributes significantly to the personalized training response, with specific polymorphisms associated with differences in exercise adaptation. These polymorphisms exist in a number of pathways controlling exercise adaptation. Environmental factors such as nutrition, psycho-emotional response, individual history and training programme design also modify the inter-individual adaptation following training. Within the emerging field of epigenetics, DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA allow environmental and lifestyle factors to impact genetic expression. These epigenetic mechanisms are themselves modified by genetic and non-genetic factors, illustrating the complex interplay between variables in determining the adaptive response. Given that genetic factors are such a fundamental modulator of the inter-individual response to exercise, genetic testing may provide a useful and affordable addition to those looking to maximise exercise adaption, including elite athletes. However, there are ethical issues regarding the use of genetic tests, and further work is needed to provide evidence based guidelines for their use.

Conclusion:

There is considerable inter-individual variation in the adaptive response to exercise. Genetic assessments may provide an additional layer of information allowing personalization of training programmes to an individual’s unique biology.

Physical activity in the prevention of human diseases: role of epigenetic modifications

Epigenetic modification refers to heritable changes in gene function that cannot be explained by alterations in the DNA sequence. The current literature clearly demonstrates that the epigenetic response is highly dynamic and influenced by different biological and environmental factors such as aging, nutrient availability and physical exercise. As such, it is well accepted that physical activity and exercise can modulate gene expression through epigenetic alternations although the type and duration of exercise eliciting specific epigenetic effects that can result in health benefits and prevent chronic diseases remains to be determined. This review highlights the most significant findings from epigenetic studies involving physical activity/exercise interventions known to benefit chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.

Physical Activity Modulates Common Neuroplasticity Substrates in Major Depressive and Bipolar Disorder

Mood disorders (MDs) are chronic, recurrent mental diseases that affect millions of individuals worldwide. Although the biogenic amine model has provided some clinical utility, a need remains to better understand the interrelated mechanisms that contribute to neuroplasticity deficits in MDs and the means by which various therapeutics mitigate them. Of those therapeutics being investigated, physical activity (PA) has shown clear and consistent promise. Accordingly, the aims of this review are to (1) explicate key modulators, processes, and interactions that impinge upon multiple susceptibility points to effectuate neuroplasticity deficits in MDs; (2) explore the putative mechanisms by which PA mitigates these features; (3) review protocols used to induce the positive effects of PA in MDs; and (4) highlight implications for clinicians and researchers.

Physical Exercise and DNA Injury: Good or Evil?

Regular, low-intensity physical activity is currently advocated for lowering the risk of developing many acute and especially chronic diseases. However, several lines of evidence attest that strenuous exercise may enhance inflammation and trigger the generation of free radical-mediated damage, thus overwhelming the undisputable benefits of regular, medium-intensity physical activity. Since reactive oxygen species are actively generated during high-intensity exercise, and these reactive compounds are known to impact DNA stability, we review here the current evidence about strenuous exercise and DNA injury. Despite the outcome of the various studies cannot be pooled due to considerable variation in design, sample population, outcome, and analytical techniques used to assess DNA damage, it seems reasonable to conclude that medium- to high-volume exercise triggers a certain amount of DNA injury, which appears to be transitory and directly proportional to exercise intensity. This damage, reasonably attributable to direct effect of free radicals on nucleic acids, is efficiently repaired in vivo within 24-72h. Therefore, physical exercise should not bear long-term consequences for athlete's health provided that an appropriate time of recovery between volumes of high-intensity exercise is set. Regular exertion, with a step-by-step increase of exercise load, also seems to be the most safe approach for eluding DNA instability.

Role of Epigenetics in Biology and Human Diseases

For a long time, scientists have tried to describe disorders just by genetic or environmental factors. However, the role of epigenetics in human diseases has been considered from a half of century ago. In the last decade, this subject has attracted many interests, especially in complicated disorders such as behavior plasticity, memory, cancer, autoimmune disease, and addiction as well as neurodegenerative and psychological disorders. This review first explains the history and classification of epigenetic modifications, and then the role of epigenetic in biology and connection between the epigenetics and environment are explained. Furthermore, the role of epigenetics in human diseases is considered by focusing on some diseases with some complicated features, and at the end, we have given the future perspective of this field. The present review article provides concepts with some examples to reveal a broad view of different aspects of epigenetics in biology and human diseases.

Physical Exercise for Treatment of Mood Disorders: A Critical Review

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to critically assess the evidence for exercise as an adjunct intervention for major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, chronic conditions characterized by frequent comorbid conditions as well as interepisodic symptoms with poor quality of life and impaired functioning. Individuals with these mood disorders are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death in part because of increased rates of obesity, inactivity, and diabetes mellitus compared to the general population. Exercise may not only mitigate the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but could also potentially improve the long term outcomes of mood disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS

We conducted a literature review on the impact of exercise on mood disorders and associated comorbid conditions as well as possible biological mechanisms. We found that exercise impacts both the physical health parameters of mood disorders as well as mental health outcomes. Exercise also positively impacts conditions frequently comorbid with mood disorders (i.e. anxiety, pain, and insomnia). There are multiple candidate biomarkers for exercise, with brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxidative stress as two main promising components of exercise's anti-depressant effect.

SUMMARY

Exercise appears to be a promising adjunct treatment for mood disorders. We conclude with recommendations for future research of exercise as an adjunct intervention for mood disorders.

DNA injury is acutely enhanced in response to increasing bulks of aerobic physical exercise

The aim of this study was to evaluate DNA damage in response to increasing bulks of aerobic physical exercise. Fifteen adult and trained athletes performed four sequential trials with increasing running distance (5-, 10-, 21- and 42-km) in different periods of the year. The γ-H2AX foci parameters were analyzed before and 3h after the end of each trial. The values of all γ-H2AX foci parameters were enhanced after the end of each trial, with values gradually increasing from the 5- to the 42-km trial. Interestingly, a minor increase of γ-H2AX foci was still evident after 5- to 10-km running, but a much higher increase occurred when the running distance exceeded 21km. The generation of DNA injury was then magnified by running up to 42-km. The increase of each γ-H2AX foci parameter was then found to be associated with both running distance and average intensity. In multivariate linear regression analysis, the running distance was significantly associated with average intensity and post-run variation in the percentage of cells with γ-H2AX foci. We can hence conclude that aerobic exercise may generate an acute DNA damage in trained athletes, which is highly dependent upon running distance and average intensity.

Exercise attenuates the major hallmarks of aging

Regular exercise has multi-system anti-aging effects. Here we summarize how exercise impacts the major hallmarks of aging. We propose that, besides searching for novel pharmaceutical targets of the aging process, more research efforts should be devoted to gaining insights into the molecular mediators of the benefits of exercise and to implement effective exercise interventions for elderly people.

A Review of 21st Century Utility of a Biopsychosocial Model in United States Medical School Education

BACKGROUND

Current medical practice is grounded in a biomedical model that fails to effectively address multifaceted lifestyle and morbidogenic environmental components that are the root causes of contemporary chronic diseases. Utilizing the biopsychosocial (BPS) model in medical school training may produce competent healthcare providers to meet the challenge of rising chronic illnesses that are a result of these factors. This study explored the current trend of research on the utility of the BPS model in medical education and examined medical school curricula that have explicitly adopted the BPS model.

METHODS

A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted on the BPS model and medical education since the 1970s using multiple databases. Descriptive analysis was used to illustrate findings regarding the trends of the BPS model in medical education and its utility in specific medical schools in the United States.

RESULTS

Major findings illustrated a growing trend in research on the BPS model in medical education since the 1970s with literature in this area most visible since 2000. The same trend was established for the incorporation of psychosocial or behavioral and social science components in medical education. From our peer-reviewed literature search, only 5 medical schools featured utility of the BPS model in their curricula utilizing variable educational processes.

CONCLUSION

Although literature regarding the BPS model in medical education is growing, the explicit utility of the BPS model in medical school is limited. Our findings can stimulate educational processes and research endeavors to advance medical education and medical practice to ensure that future doctors can meet the challenge of rising lifestyle and environmental associated illnesses.

The heritable path of human physical performance: from single polymorphisms to the "next generation"

Human physical performance is a complex multifactorial trait. Historically, environmental factors (e.g., diet, training) alone have been unable to explain the basis of all prominent phenotypes for physical performance. Therefore, there has been an interest in the study of the contribution of genetic factors to the development of these phenotypes. Support for a genetic component is found with studies that shown that monozygotic twins were more similar than were dizygotic twins for many physiological traits. The evolution of molecular techniques and the ability to scan the entire human genome enabled association of several genetic polymorphisms with performance. However, some biases related to the selection of cohorts and inadequate definition of the study variables have complicated the already difficult task of studying such a large and polymorphic genome, often resulting in inconsistent results about the influence of candidate genes. This review aims to provide a critical overview of heritable genetic aspects. Novel molecular technologies, such as next-generation sequencing, are discussed and how they can contribute to improving understanding of the molecular basis for athletic performance. It is important to ensure that the large amount of data that can be generated using these tools will be used effectively by ensuring well-designed studies.

The relevance of epigenetics to occlusive cerebral and peripheral arterial disease

Athero-thrombosis of the arteries supplying the brain and lower limb are the main causes of stroke and limb loss. New therapies are needed to improve the outcomes of athero-thrombosis. Recent evidence suggests a role for epigenetic changes in the development and progression of ischaemic injury due to atherosclerotic occlusion of peripheral arteries. DNA hypermethylation have been associated with cardiovascular diseases. Histone post-translational modifications have also been implicated in atherosclerosis. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein regulated pro-inflammatory gene expression within endothelial cells is controlled by phosphorylation/acetylation of histone H3 and acetylation of histone H4 for example. There are a number of challenges in translating the growing evidence implicating epigenetics in atherosclerosis to improved therapies for patients. These include the small therapeutic window in conditions such as acute stroke and critical limb ischaemia, since interventions introduced in such patients need to act rapidly and be safe in elderly patients with many co-morbidities. Pre-clinical animal experiments have also reported conflicting effects of some novel epigenetic drugs, which suggest that further in-depth studies are required to better understand their efficacy in resolving ischaemic injury. Effective ways of dealing with these challenges are needed before epigenetic approaches to therapy can be introduced into practice.

High responders and low responders: factors associated with individual variation in response to standardized training

The response to an exercise intervention is often described in general terms, with the assumption that the group average represents a typical response for most individuals. In reality, however, it is more common for individuals to show a wide range of responses to an intervention rather than a similar response. This phenomenon of 'high responders' and 'low responders' following a standardized training intervention may provide helpful insights into mechanisms of training adaptation and methods of training prescription. Therefore, the aim of this review was to discuss factors associated with inter-individual variation in response to standardized, endurance-type training. It is well-known that genetic influences make an important contribution to individual variation in certain training responses. The association between genotype and training response has often been supported using heritability estimates; however, recent studies have been able to link variation in some training responses to specific single nucleotide polymorphisms. It would appear that hereditary influences are often expressed through hereditary influences on the pre-training phenotype, with some parameters showing a hereditary influence in the pre-training phenotype but not in the subsequent training response. In most cases, the pre-training phenotype appears to predict only a small amount of variation in the subsequent training response of that phenotype. However, the relationship between pre-training autonomic activity and subsequent maximal oxygen uptake response appears to show relatively stronger predictive potential. Individual variation in response to standardized training that cannot be explained by genetic influences may be related to the characteristics of the training program or lifestyle factors. Although standardized programs usually involve training prescribed by relative intensity and duration, some methods of relative exercise intensity prescription may be more successful in creating an equivalent homeostatic stress between individuals than other methods. Individual variation in the homeostatic stress associated with each training session would result in individuals experiencing a different exercise 'stimulus' and contribute to individual variation in the adaptive responses incurred over the course of the training program. Furthermore, recovery between the sessions of a standardized training program may vary amongst individuals due to factors such as training status, sleep, psychological stress, and habitual physical activity. If there is an imbalance between overall stress and recovery, some individuals may develop fatigue and even maladaptation, contributing to variation in pre-post training responses. There is some evidence that training response can be modulated by the timing and composition of dietary intake, and hence nutritional factors could also potentially contribute to individual variation in training responses. Finally, a certain amount of individual variation in responses may also be attributed to measurement error, a factor that should be accounted for wherever possible in future studies. In conclusion, there are several factors that could contribute to individual variation in response to standardized training. However, more studies are required to help clarify and quantify the role of these factors. Future studies addressing such topics may aid in the early prediction of high or low training responses and provide further insight into the mechanisms of training adaptation.

A brief review of exercise, bipolar disorder, and mechanistic pathways

Despite evidence that exercise has been found to be effective in the treatment of depression, it is unclear whether these data can be extrapolated to bipolar disorder. Available evidence for bipolar disorder is scant, with no existing randomized controlled trials having tested the impact of exercise on depressive, manic or hypomanic symptomatology. Although exercise is often recommended in bipolar disorder, this is based on extrapolation from the unipolar literature, theory and clinical expertise and not empirical evidence. In addition, there are currently no available empirical data on program variables, with practical implications on frequency, intensity and type of exercise derived from unipolar depression studies. The aim of the current paper is to explore the relationship between exercise and bipolar disorder and potential mechanistic pathways. Given the high rate of medical co-morbidities experienced by people with bipolar disorder, it is possible that exercise is a potentially useful and important intervention with regard to general health benefits; however, further research is required to elucidate the impact of exercise on mood symptomology.

Exercise training and DNA methylation in humans

The response to exercise training (trainability) has been shown to have a strong heritable component. There is growing evidence suggesting that traits such as trainability do not only depend on the genetic code, but also on epigenetic signals. Epigenetic signals play an important role in the modulation of gene expression, through mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. There is an emerging evidence to show that physical activity influences DNA methylation in humans. The present review aims to summarize current knowledge on the link between DNA methylation and physical activity in humans. We have critically reviewed the literature and only papers focused on physical activity and its influence on DNA methylation status were included; a total of 25 papers were selected. We concluded that both acute and chronic exercises significantly impact DNA methylation, in a highly tissue- and gene-specific manner. This review also provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of exercise-induced DNA methylation changes, and recommendations for future research.

Physical exercise and epigenetic modulation: elucidating intricate mechanisms

Physical exercise induces several metabolic adaptations to meet increased energy requirements. Promoter DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, or microRNA expression are involved in the gene expression changes implicated in metabolic adaptation after exercise. Epigenetic modifications and many epigenetic enzymes are potentially dependent on changes in the levels of metabolites, such as oxygen, tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, 2-oxoglutarate, 2-hydroxyglutarate, and β-hydroxybutyrate, and are therefore susceptible to the changes induced by exercise in a tissue-dependent manner. Most of these changes are regulated by important epigenetic modifiers that control DNA methylation (DNA methyl transferases, and ten-eleven-translocation proteins) and post-translational modifications in histone tails controlled by histone acetyltransferases, histone deacetylases, and histone demethylases (jumonji C proteins, lysine-specific histone demethylase, etc.), among others. Developments in mass spectrometry approaches and the comprehension of the interconnections between epigenetics and metabolism further increase our understanding of underlying epigenetic mechanisms, not only of exercise, but also of disease and aging. In this article, we describe several of these substrates and signaling molecules regulated by exercise that affect some of the most important epigenetic mechanisms, which, in turn, control the gene expression involved in metabolism.

Exercise: putting action into our epigenome

Most human phenotypes are influenced by a combination of genomic and environmental factors. Engaging in regular physical exercise prevents many chronic diseases, decreases mortality risk and increases longevity. However, the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. The modulating effect of physical (aerobic and resistance) exercise on gene expression has been known for some time now and has provided us with an understanding of the biological responses to physical exercise. Emerging research data suggest that epigenetic modifications are extremely important for both development and disease in humans. In the current review, we summarise findings on the effect of exercise on epigenetic modifications and their effects on gene expression. Current research data suggest epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation and histone acetylation) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are responsive to acute aerobic and resistance exercise in brain, blood, skeletal and cardiac muscle, adipose tissue and even buccal cells. Six months of aerobic exercise alters whole-genome DNA methylation in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and directly influences lipogenesis. Some miRNAs are related to maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2max)) and VO(2max) trainability, and are differentially expressed amongst individuals with high and low VO(2max). Remarkably, miRNA expression profiles discriminate between low and high responders to resistance exercise (miR-378, -26a, -29a and -451) and correlate to gains in lean body mass (miR-378). The emerging field of exercise epigenomics is expected to prosper and additional studies may elucidate the clinical relevance of miRNAs and epigenetic modifications, and delineate mechanisms by which exercise confers a healthier phenotype and improves performance.

Epigenetics and social context: implications for disparity in cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND

Although it is well established that African Americans (AA) experience greater social stressors than non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), the extent to which early life adversity and cumulative social stressors such as perceived discrimination, neighborhood violence, subjective social status, and socioeconomic status contribute to disparity in coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke between AA and NHW are not well understood.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual model based upon McEwen's Allostatic Load Model suggesting how the relationships among social context, early life adversity, psychological stress, inflammation, adaptation, and epigenetic signature may contribute to the development of CHD and ischemic stroke. We hypothesize that social context and prior life adversity are associated with genome-wide as well as gene-specific epigenetic modifications that confer a proinflammatory epigenetic signature that mediates an enhanced proinflammatory state. Exposure to early life adversity, coupled with an increased allostatic load places individuals at greater risk for inflammatory based diseases, such as CHD and ischemic stroke.

RESULTS

Based on a review of the literature, we propose a novel model in which social context and psychological stress, particularly during early life, engenders a proinflammatory epigenetic signature, which drives a heightened inflammatory state that increases risk for CHD and stroke. In the proposed model, a proinflammatory epigenetic signature and adaptation serve as mediator variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the extent to which epigenetic signature bridges the psycho-social environment with inflammation and risk for CHD may yield novel biomarkers that can be used to assess risk, development, and progression of CHD/stroke. Epigenetic biomarkers may be used to inform preventive and treatment strategies that can be targeted to those most vulnerable, or to those with early signs of CHD, such as endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, epigenetic approaches, including lifestyle modification and stress reduction programs, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, offer promise to reduce health inequity linked to social disadvantage, as emerging evidence demonstrates that adverse epigenetic marks can be reversed.

Epigenetics across the human lifespan

Epigenetics has the potential to explain various biological phenomena that have heretofore defied complete explication. This review describes the various types of endogenous human developmental milestones such as birth, puberty, and menopause, as well as the diverse exogenous environmental factors that influence human health, in a chronological epigenetic context. We describe the entire course of human life from periconception to death and chronologically note all of the potential internal timepoints and external factors that influence the human epigenome. Ultimately, the environment presents these various factors to the individual that influence the epigenome, and the unique epigenetic and genetic profile of each individual also modulates the specific response to these factors. During the course of human life, we are exposed to an environment that abounds with a potent and dynamic milieu capable of triggering chemical changes that activate or silence genes. There is constant interaction between the external and internal environments that is required for normal development and health maintenance as well as for influencing disease load and resistance. For example, exposure to pharmaceutical and toxic chemicals, diet, stress, exercise, and other environmental factors are capable of eliciting positive or negative epigenetic modifications with lasting effects on development, metabolism and health. These can impact the body so profoundly as to permanently alter the epigenetic profile of an individual. We also present a comprehensive new hypothesis of how these diverse environmental factors cause both direct and indirect epigenetic changes and how this knowledge can ultimately be used to improve personalized medicine.

From gene engineering to gene modulation and manipulation: can we prevent or detect gene doping in sports?

During the last 2 decades, progress in deciphering the human gene map as well as the discovery of specific defective genes encoding particular proteins in some serious human diseases have resulted in attempts to treat sick patients with gene therapy. There has been considerable focus on human recombinant proteins which were gene-engineered and produced in vitro (insulin, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, erythropoietin). Unfortunately, these substances and methods also became improper tools for unscrupulous athletes. Biomedical research has focused on the possible direct insertion of gene material into the body, in order to replace some defective genes in vivo and/or to promote long-lasting endogenous synthesis of deficient proteins. Theoretically, diabetes, anaemia, muscular dystrophies, immune deficiency, cardiovascular diseases and numerous other illnesses could benefit from such innovative biomedical research, though much work remains to be done. Considering recent findings linking specific genotypes and physical performance, it is tempting to submit the young athletic population to genetic screening or, alternatively, to artificial gene expression modulation. Much research is already being conducted in order to achieve a safe transfer of genetic material to humans. This is of critical importance since uncontrolled production of the specifically coded protein, with serious secondary adverse effects (polycythaemia, acute cardiovascular problems, cancer, etc.), could occur. Other unpredictable reactions (immunogenicity of vectors or DNA-vector complex, autoimmune anaemia, production of wild genetic material) also remain possible at the individual level. Some new substances (myostatin blockers or anti-myostatin antibodies), although not gene material, might represent a useful and well-tolerated treatment to prevent progression of muscular dystrophies. Similarly, other molecules, in the roles of gene or metabolic activators [5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), GW1516], might concomitantly improve endurance exercise capacity in ischaemic conditions but also in normal conditions. Undoubtedly, some athletes will attempt to take advantage of these new molecules to increase strength or endurance. Antidoping laboratories are improving detection methods. These are based both on direct identification of new substances or their metabolites and on indirect evaluation of changes in gene, protein or metabolite patterns (genomics, proteomics or metabolomics).

Nutrition and health during mid-life: searching for solutions and meeting challenges for the aging population

Interactions between genetic (genome) and environmental factors (epigenome) operate during a person's entire lifespan. The aging process is associated with several cellular and organic functional alterations that, at the end, cause multi-organic cell failure. Epigenetic mechanisms of aging are modifiable by appropriate preventive actions mediated by sirtuins, caloric input, diet components, adipose tissue-related inflammatory reactions, and physical activity. The Mediterranean lifestyle has been for many millennia a daily habit for people in Western civilizations living around the Mediterranean sea who worked intensively and survived with very few seasonal foods. A high adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet is associated with low mortality (higher longevity) and reduced risk of developing chronic diseases, including cancer, the metabolic syndrome, depression and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Reports indicate that some dietary components, such as olive oil, antioxidants, omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated acids, polyphenols and flavonoids, mediate beneficial anti-aging effects (anti-chronic diseases and increased longevity). Equally, physical activity displays a positive effect, producing caloric consumption and regulation of adipose and pancreatic function. The predictive strength of some food patterns may be a way of developing recommendations for food and health policies. This paper will discuss several ways of improving health during mid-life, focusing on certain groups of functional foods and healthy habits which may reduce or prevent age-related chronic diseases.