Dna / longevity and Tai Chi, qigong medical research
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Practicing tai chi may promote a longer life
The ability to methylate DNA in the group practicing tai chi was significantly better than the control group. Their conclusions suggested that the regular practice of tai chi may result in enhanced longevity compared to control groups.
-- Chicago Daily Herald
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Epigenetic Changes in Response to Tai Chi Practice: A Pilot Investigation of DNA Methylation Marks
Conclusion: This work has provided preliminary evidence that tai chi practice may be associated with measurable beneficial epigenetic changes ...
For these four marks, the tai chi practitioners as a group showed DNA methylation levels that were consistently lower than those of the controls across age ...
-- NIH (National Institutes of Health)
-- Hindawi



Science Says This Is Your Perfect Anti-Aging Workout
Reduce inflammation.
tai chi can reduce inflammation
PEOPLEIMAGES.COM/GETTY IMAGES
Inflammation is an integral part of the body's attempt to heal an injury. But when stress or poor sleep ramps up inflammation, it can raise your risk of heart trouble, stroke, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and even cancer. Tai chi can tame that response ...
Ease knee pain.
Boost strength.
Slow aging.
researchers reported that volunteers who engaged in tai chi boasted a significantly higher number of CD 34+ cells than the group who didn't exercise at all. That's key because CD 34+ cells are responsible for new cell growth and renewal.
-- Prevention Magazine



Long Term Tai Chi Exercise Reduced DNA Damage and
Increased Lymphocyte Apoptosis and Proliferation in Older
Adults
SUMMARY
Effect of Tai Chi exercise on the level of DNA damage using
the comet assay, lymphocyte viability and frequency of sister
chromatid exchange (SCE) were determined in adults aged
above 45. Tai Chi participants of 7 years (n=35), showed
higher level of normal DNA and lower level of mild and
severely damaged DNA as compared to the sedentary
subjects (n=35).
-- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abd Aziz, Cheras 50300,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia




Mind-body interventions (MBIs) such as meditation, yoga and Tai Chi don't simply relax us; they can 'reverse' the molecular reactions in our DNA
which cause ill-health and depression, according to a study by the universities of Coventry and Radboud.
-- Science Daily




Tai Chi Improves Oxidative Stress Response and DNA Damage/Repair in Young Sedentary Females
This study had several limitations ... Nevertheless, this pilot study showed TC intervention can improve the response to oxidative stress and the DNA damage/repair process in female students ...
-- NIH (National Institutes of Health)




Long term Tai Chi exercise reduced DNA damage and increased lymphocyte apoptosis and proliferation in older adults
-- ResearchGate.net




Taking Care of Telomeres
yoga, stretching and Tai Chi are ...
proven stress modulators.
By Leigh Erin Connealy , MD

Fighting aging at the cellular level starts by supporting some of the smallest components with stress reduction, regula activity, nutritious food and a positive attitude.

The phrase “Good things come in small packages” wasn't originally intended to describe telomeres, but it definitely applies. Telomeres are microscopic caps shielding the ends of our chromosomes. These little collections of DNA (the material that contains each cell's genetic instructions) are involved in the process of cell division, a vitally important process that helps keeps our bodies functioning properly. Each time a cell divides, the telomere attached to it contributes a portion of itself to the process and therefore becomes smaller.

At some point, the telomere is too small to continue providing this service, so cell division stops. While the cell remains alive, it can't renew itself and its ability to function slows or ends completely. You can see the effects of shortened telomeres in sagging, wrinkled skin, and diseases normally associated with aging, such as heart disease and a weakened immune system. And several studies have confirmed that individuals with shorter telomeres are more vulnerable to a variety of ailments.

As a result, scientists have been looking for ways to keep telomeres from shrinking. So far, the findings suggest that one of the best ways to do that is with lifestyle changes. At the top of the list: stress management!

De-Stressing Slows the Clock

Here's how stress affects telomeres: During stressful events, the adrenal glands produce hormones that damage – and sometimes kill – immune system cells. To replace them, other cells in the immune system take on the job of replicating, which causes their telomeres to become shorter. So more stress means shorter telomeres, which eventually translates into less effective cells throughout the body. In other words, cells may become old before their time as a result of repeated bouts of unmanaged stress.

Stress management techniques run the gamut, ranging from exercise to meditation and visualization to breathing practices designed specifically for that purpose. In the exercise category, cardio workouts are one option, but yoga, stretching and Tai Chi are also proven stress modulators.
-- CFN Medicine

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YOGA
Mind-body interventions (MBIs) such as meditation, yoga and Tai Chi don't simply relax us; they can 'reverse' the molecular reactions in our DNA
which cause ill-health and depression, according to a study by the universities of Coventry and Radboud.
-- Science Daily


Impact of Yoga and Meditation on Cellular Aging in Apparently Healthy Individuals: A Prospective, Open-Label Single-Arm Exploratory Study
Conclusion
Though we cannot change our biology or chronological age we can definitely reverse/slow down the pace at which we age by adopting YMLI. This is the first study to demonstrate improvement in both cardinal and metabotrophic biomarkers of cellular aging and longevity in apparently healthy population after Yoga and Meditation based lifestyle intervention.
-- NIH (National Institutes of Health)



Preliminary indications of the effect of a brief yoga intervention on markers of inflammation and DNA methylation in chronically stressed women
CONCLUSION: ... To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the role of yoga on epigenetic change, and the first MBT to investigate DNA methylation in immune candidates' methylation (IL6, TNF and CRP). Although this pilot study is small and exploratory, it nevertheless indicates that in a non-clinical chronically stressed community population, practicing a minimum of a once-weekly, hour-long yoga class, is associated with differential methylation patterns despite the waitlist control group reporting similar energy expenditure to the yoga group. This suggests that these changes may not be related to energy expenditure, but some aspect of the yoga engagement ...
-- NIH (National Institutes of Health)


DNA Explainer: How Yoga reduces the risk of cancer at the molecular level
Millions around the world enjoy the health benefits of yoga but are unaware that the benefits begin at the source of the body's biology i.e. the DNA.
-- DNA India.com



Yoga Associated With Gene Expression In Immune Cells, Study Finds
The small Norwegian study, published this month in the journal PLOS ONE, has found genetic evidence of yoga's impact on the immune system. In the study, researchers examined 10 participants who underwent a weeklong yoga retreat where they did meditation, yogic postures and yogic breathing exercises. Examining the participants' blood before and after four-hour yoga sessions showed that the yoga practice changed the expression of 111 genes in circulating immune cells. In contrast, music and walking-based relaxation changed the expression of 38 genes.
-- HuffPost.com



Meditation and Yoga May Change How Stress Affects Our DNA, Study Finds
-- NBC News


Yoga, meditation counter gene expression changes that cause stress
-- Medical News Today



Meditation, yoga cut risk of cancer, depression by reversing DNA, says study
Researchers found that practising mind-body interventions such as Tai Chi, meditation and yoga lead to a reversal of the pro-inflammatory gene expression pattern and a reduction in the risk of inflammation-related diseases.
-- Hindustan Times




MINDFULNESS / MEDITATION
Molecules of Silence: Effects of Meditation on Gene Expression and Epigenetics
... Surprisingly, meditation practices seem to act on the same gene targets, such as FKBP5, SLC6A4, and BDNF, and promote endocrinal, neuronal, and behavioral functions. This suggests that the achievement of a state of inner silence through the practice of meditation can prevent or reverse the detrimental effects of a stressful environment (see Table 1) ...
-- NIH (National Institutes of Health)


Impact of Yoga and Meditation on Cellular Aging in Apparently Healthy Individuals: A Prospective, Open-Label Single-Arm Exploratory Study
Conclusion
Though we cannot change our biology or chronological age we can definitely reverse/slow down the pace at which we age by adopting YMLI. This is the first study to demonstrate improvement in both cardinal and metabotrophic biomarkers of cellular aging and longevity in apparently healthy population after Yoga and Meditation based lifestyle intervention.
-- NIH (National Institutes of Health)


Meditation and Yoga May Change How Stress Affects Our DNA, Study Finds
-- NBC News


Meditation, yoga cut risk of cancer, depression by reversing DNA, says study
Researchers found that practising mind-body interventions such as Tai Chi, meditation and yoga lead to a reversal of the pro-inflammatory gene expression pattern and a reduction in the risk of inflammation-related diseases.
-- Hindustan Times



How Meditation Helps You Look Younger, Sleep Deeper and Have Better Sex
"A regular meditation practice showed evidence of keeping the brain up to 20 years younger vs. brains of non-meditators."

So meditation not only helps you look younger, but you'll also feel younger from the inside, out.
-- Organic Authority.com




* NOTE: World Tai Chi & Qigong Day advises consulting your physician before beginning any new exercise, herbal, diet, or health program. The research listed here is meant to stimulate a discussion between you and your physician, health insurance carrier, etc., not as medical advise. Research and comments provided here are hoped to stimulate a more robust discussion of powerful natural mind/body health tools. Popular media, health media, and government must increase attention to stunning emerging research, including the UCLA study indicating Tai Chi participants enjoyed a 50% increase in immune system resistance to viral infection.

To learn more about tai chi & qigong medical research, see the below book,
"the complete idiot's guide to tai chi & qigong,", and also
"Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi," and
"The way of qigong: the art and science of chinese energy healing."