1. Training for a First-Time Marathon Reverses Age-Related Aortic Stiffening.
- Author
-
Bhuva AN, D'Silva A, Torlasco C, Jones S, Nadarajan N, Van Zalen J, Chaturvedi N, Lloyd G, Sharma S, Moon JC, Hughes AD, and Manisty CH
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Aging pathology, Cohort Studies, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, London epidemiology, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Young Adult, Aging physiology, Blood Pressure physiology, Physical Conditioning, Human methods, Physical Conditioning, Human physiology, Running physiology, Vascular Stiffness physiology
- Abstract
Background: Aging increases aortic stiffness, contributing to cardiovascular risk even in healthy individuals. Aortic stiffness is reduced through supervised training programs, but these are not easily generalizable., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether real-world exercise training for a first-time marathon can reverse age-related aortic stiffening., Methods: Untrained healthy individuals underwent 6 months of training for the London Marathon. Assessment pre-training and 2 weeks post-marathon included central (aortic) blood pressure and aortic stiffness using cardiovascular magnetic resonance distensibility. Biological "aortic age" was calculated from the baseline chronological age-stiffness relationship. Change in stiffness was assessed at the ascending (Ao-A) and descending aorta at the pulmonary artery bifurcation (Ao-P) and diaphragm (Ao-D). Data are mean changes (95% confidence intervals [CIs])., Results: A total of 138 first-time marathon completers (age 21 to 69 years, 49% male) were assessed, with an estimated training schedule of 6 to 13 miles/week. At baseline, a decade of chronological aging correlated with a decrease in Ao-A, Ao-P, and Ao-D distensibility by 2.3, 1.9, and 3.1 × 10
-3 mm Hg-1 , respectively (p < 0.05 for all). Training decreased systolic and diastolic central (aortic) blood pressure by 4 mm Hg (95% CI: 2.8 to 5.5 mm Hg) and 3 mm Hg (95% CI: 1.6 to 3.5 mm Hg). Descending aortic distensibility increased (Ao-P: 9%; p = 0.009; Ao-D: 16%; p = 0.002), while remaining unchanged in the Ao-A. These translated to a reduction in "aortic age" by 3.9 years (95% CI: 1.1 to 7.6 years) and 4.0 years (95% CI: 1.7 to 8.0 years) (Ao-P and Ao-D, respectively). Benefit was greater in older, male participants with slower running times (p < 0.05 for all)., Conclusions: Training for and completing a marathon even at relatively low exercise intensity reduces central blood pressure and aortic stiffness-equivalent to a ∼4-year reduction in vascular age. Greater rejuvenation was observed in older, slower individuals., (Copyright © 2020 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF