It’s natural to be skeptical of claims about halting or reversing aging. But when it comes to how our cells are expressing their DNA, certain changes are closely associated with age. Over the past two decades, research has confirmed that daily habits matter because healthier habits can slow aging at the cellular level.
We cannot escape all the changes that come with age, but we may be able to delay some of them and preserve younger-behaving cells. Your birthday may suggest you are 50 years old, for example, but your habits may cause your cells to look closer to 40… (or closer to 60!)
The key factor is the daily habits you adopt. Habits are repeated regularly, gradually changing us inside and out. And within your cells, how your DNA is packed is part of “epigenetic” aging. What is Epigenetic Aging? This refers to special molecular markers that influence what parts of DNA are expressed by your cells.
Imagine a yarn ball as strands of DNA packed into one of your cells. Your genetic info is wound tightly, but some parts of the yarn are loosened to expose genes to create proteins. Loosened yarn allows the cell’s machinery enough space to attach to the DNA, transcribing your genes into proteins. Loosening and tightening that yarn in specific places occurs thanks to epigenetic (“upon the DNA”) changes.
Blood samples can be used to understand our epigenetic aging because age-associated changes are well established. Habits associated with higher disease risk and lower lifespan are associated with accelerated epigenetic age. For example, studies show that those who lack healthy stress management skills or engage in cigarette smoking are both associated with accelerated epigenetic aging. In fact, lifetime exposure to stress can age your cells by many additional years according to epigenetic markers. And each additional pack of cigarettes per year is associated with cells that look almost an entire year older compared to non-smokers. (This suggests that smoking 10 packs of cigarettes a year causes epigenetic patterns to appear a decade older than their actual age.)
Each day of healthier habits matters on the inside. Epigenetic changes are rapid in your cells. As a result, daily habits can adjust epigenetic markers in real time, adjusting the tension throughout that ball of yarn. Every day offers a chance to make healthier choices to regain youthful cell functions. 
A recent study asked postmenopausal women to work on daily lifestyle improvements related to diet and physical activity. Several of these lifestyle adjustments can slow the epigenetic clock, helping cells to function as though they were younger. And the results were impressive: Improving diet and or physical activity habits significantly slowed down epigenetic aging.
In the study, healthier diets impacted areas of the yarn (genes) involved in inflammation, consistent with lower levels of inflammation. And women who embraced physical activity changed the epigenetic tags on their cancer-related genes, including some involved in breast and lung cancer. This slowdown in epigenetic aging is one of many ways that regular exercise reduces the risk of cancer and cancer recurrence.
We all have habits that could be improved, but following through on healthy intentions is not easy. Structure, support, and encouragement matter when it comes to behavior change. That’s why Treo’s whole-person platform offers the most customizable experience available. Members work on what is important to them and achieve sustainable lifestyle improvements with the help of supportive videos, opportunities to cheer on their peers, and the option of wellness coaching. This helps our members in ways that slow cellular aging, helping them create a brighter future. Email us to learn more at info@treowellness.com
As Treo’s Global Wellness Researcher, Karlie uses recent research findings to support healthier daily habits. Karlie earned her doctorate in Neuroscience and Behavior and bachelors in Health and Exercise Science.
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