Preventing Aging by Regular Exercise

Regular exercise has multiple anti-aging effects. Physical activity was shown to benefit to the whole- body metabolic health and to improve brain functions in healthy adults as well as in patients in different stages of neurodegenerative diseases. We assume that we can identify biochemical and structural changes in the muscle and in the brain with the means of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy and that long term aerobic and resistance exercise intervention c an prevent age-related effects. For this purpose, we will compare the groups of elderly regularly participating in training program with those with sedentary life style. After the initial experiments, both groups will be followed for 36 month. In parallel, natural aging effects will be compared with the muscle and brain metabolic and molecular changes elicited by cis-platinum based chemotherapy of Testicular Germ Cell Tumor. Oncologic diseases and cytotoxic therapy resemble in part natural aging process in different parts of the body. In our best knowledge, we are the first to propose such a comprehensive non-invasive MR-based examination of the ageing effects and effects of long term regular on skeletal muscle metabolism, and brain morphology in the population of elderly. Furthermore, there is a little knowledge about the effects of chemotherapy on the skeletal muscle metabolism, and brain morphology, perfusion and functional connectivity. Benefits of regular exercise on supporting chemotherapy-induced late toxicity have been suggested but studies exploring underlying mechanism at the tissue-specific and molecular level are very limited.