Does increased physical activity increase the rate of cell division?

Question

Ever since learning that the shortening of telomeres is linked to aging I've tried to figure out what causes cells to divide, and if it's possible to slow down the rate of cell division through life style changes.How would, for example, increased or decreased metabolism affect the cell cycle? If we exercise a lot, would it tear on the cells in any way, forcing faster cell division?

Answer 1

Rate of cell division is cell specific, meaning that different tissues will have different rates of cell division based on their function. This is predetermined. For example neurons which are responsible for communication from your brain/spinal cord to your body do not divide. Conversely epithelial (skin) cells divide quite frequently because of their function. The actual progression through the cell cycle is determined by certain chemical signals in your cells.

Other than your cell's normal cell division cycle that is predetermined through genes, cells division will take place to replace damaged cells.

Since this is all predetermined you cannot slow down cell division.

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

This is such a great question! Let me see if I can adjust your thinking a bit here. There are certain cells in your body such as neurocytes and some myocytes rarely undergo mitosis. However, other cells such as epithelial cells are replaced on average every 14 days.

Lifestyle changes may not slow down the mitotic rate of actively dividing cells; however, positive lifestyle changes such as consuming an adequate amount of B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamins C and E, as well as lutein all contribute to preserving telomere length. So basically you need to eat a diet that is rich in color.

As far as the link between telomere lenth and exercise, Brigmam Young did a study that found that increased exercise was related to increased length of telomeres. There is a reason that exercise is the fountain of youth! Don't stop exercising because you think it increases the mitotic division of cells, rather increase your exercise because it has a positive effect on your telomere length! https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170510115211.htm

This was a fun question to answer, so thank you for thinking of it!