Weekly roundup (28. July - 4. August)
Physical Activity
A pooled analysis of 20 trials involving 2,039 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) showed that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation significantly reduced the severity of symptoms by 39%, the frequency of AF episodes by 43%, the length of episodes by 42%, and the risk of recurrence by 32%.
The program also improved exercise capacity and mental health, though it did not reduce mortality or cause more serious side effects compared to control groups.
The studies, conducted between 2006 and 2024, tested interventions lasting 8 to 24 weeks, with participants attending 1 to 7 sessions per week.
Building on the importance of exercise for overall health, a study revealed that intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) can make up as much as 12% of total muscle tissue, where it acts like a barrier that blocks proper muscle healing and regeneration.
When fat infiltrates the muscle, it leads to smaller and weaker muscle fibers, which directly results in a loss of strength.
The presence of IMAT prevents normal muscle fiber growth and causes disorganized healing after injuries, making recovery more difficult.
Extending this connection between muscle health and long-term outcomes, physical activity tends to start dropping about 12 years before a heart or vascular disease diagnosis, with an even sharper decline in the two years leading up to the event.
In a long-term study of 3,068 people followed for a median of 34 years, those who developed cardiovascular disease had much lower activity levels compared to healthy participants. Activity was measured in exercise units, where 300 units equals about 150 minutes of activity per week (the standard health recommendation).
After a diagnosis, people with any type of cardiovascular disease consistently stayed below 300 exercise units, meaning most were not reaching the recommended activity levels. [source]
Reinforcing how even modest physical activity can make a difference, a study of 79,856 people, mostly from low-income and Black communities, found that just 15 minutes of brisk walking a day was linked to a nearly 20% drop in overall mortality.
In comparison, slow walking for more than three hours daily only gave a 4% reduction in mortality.
The benefits of fast walking were especially clear in lowering deaths from cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death in the U.S.
Importantly, this effect was independent of other leisure-time physical activity, showing that brisk walking is a simple, affordable, and highly effective way to boost both longevity and heart health. [source]
Building on the evidence that even small increases in walking intensity can yield major benefits, the study showed that when frail older adults walked just 14 steps per minute faster than their usual pace, their walking speed rose to about 100 steps per minute, leading to better physical function.
This increase in pace helped participants walk longer distances and boosted their overall functional capacity, making everyday activities easier.
To support this, researchers created a smartphone app called "Walk Test", which can precisely measure walking cadence, making it simple to track and maintain the right pace.
The findings highlight that walking is a low-cost, accessible exercise—and that even a slightly faster pace can help older adults stay independent and improve their health. [source]
Extending the theme of simple, low-cost exercises improving health and independence, a study by Bournemouth University and University Hospitals Dorset found that an 8-week cycling and education program (CHAIN) for hip osteoarthritis led to better recovery outcomes compared to standard physiotherapy.
In the UK, around 10 million people live with osteoarthritis, and 3.2 million of them suffer specifically from hip OA.
At a five-year follow-up, patients in the CHAIN program showed significant improvements in hip function, with 57% managing to avoid surgery.
Professor Wainwright emphasized that a hip replacement costs over £6,000 per patient, making CHAIN’s group sessions more cost-effective and a potential way to ease NHS physiotherapy waiting lists. [source]
Continuing the focus on exercise as a therapeutic tool, a study of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices found that completing 12 dynamic cycling sessions over four weeks led to measurable changes in brain signals controlling movement.
The exercise involved cycling at up to 80 RPM for about 30 minutes, supported by adaptive motor assistance to help maintain the pace.
While there were no immediate changes in brain signals, long-term training appeared to reorganize neural connections, offering potential benefits for motor symptoms.
These results provide valuable insight into how exercise can reshape brain networks in PD, opening the door to more personalized treatments in the future. [source]
Adding to the evidence that exercise can influence disease at its core, researchers studied 112 patients with stage 1–3 colon cancer, comparing those who were active (doing at least 150 minutes of exercise per week) with those who were inactive (less than 1 hour per week).
In the tumors of active patients, genes tied to cancer progression and energy production were less active, showing that exercise may directly alter tumor metabolism.
Meanwhile, in the fat tissue of active patients, metabolism-related genes were more active, suggesting that regular movement also helps reshape nearby tissues.
This study highlights that exercise does more than improve fitness—it can change cancer behavior at the molecular level, influencing how tumors grow and respond. [source]
Building on the molecular effects of exercise in cancer, a study found that just one session of resistance or high-intensity interval training boosted anti-cancer myokine levels in breast cancer survivors, with the potential to reduce cancer growth by 20% to 30%.
Researchers measured myokine levels before exercise, right after, and 30 minutes later, confirming that exercise has therapeutic effects even in people impacted by cancer treatments.
Ongoing exercise that reduces fat mass and increases lean muscle mass was linked to lower inflammation, a key factor in reducing breast cancer recurrence and mortality.
The study cautioned against quick weight loss without exercise, stressing that preserving muscle mass is vital for producing the anti-cancer chemicals that help protect long-term health. [source]
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