Exercise slows epigenetic aging in breast cancer survivors
A randomized trial shows a 12-month workout program slowed DNA methylation clocks and linked with preserved cognitive health.
In sedentary breast cancer survivors, a 12-month exercise intervention slowed biological aging compared to a health and wellness control program. Researchers evaluated a subsample of 124 participants from a randomized controlled trial within five years of their diagnosis. Participants were assigned to either a remotely delivered exercise regimen or a contact-matched wellness group. The researchers collected blood samples and measured cognition at baseline, six months, and twelve months. Over the year, the exercise group showed slower epigenetic aging based on the GrimAge2 and DNAmFitAge clocks. Accelerations in epigenetic aging tracked with greater declines in attention and self-reported cognitive function. Epigenetic analysis also revealed changes at sites linked to brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling pathways.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that lifestyle interventions can slow molecular markers of aging that typically accelerate after cancer treatment. They also indicate biological aging may directly mediate the link between physical activity and preserved cognitive function.
Caveats
The study was a secondary analysis restricted to a subset of 124 participants with complete data. The results reflect specific epigenetic clocks in breast cancer survivors and may not generalize to broader populations.
- Exercise
- Epigenetic alterations
- DNA methylation
- BDNF
- Breast cancer
- Cognitive impairment
- DNAmFitAge
- GrimAge2
- Homo sapiens
The paper
Exercise slows biological aging in breast cancer survivors: secondary analysis of a randomized trial
Carlin D, Ott O, Sears DD et al.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute · 30 Sep 2026