Body Awareness and Aerobic Exercise: Telomere Impact

Plain-language summary

Telomeres shorten with each replication cycle throughout cellular lifespan. While it is known that telomere length is age-dependent, numerous factors influencing telomere length have been identified. One such factor is the perception of stress created by the individual and their environment. It has been suggested that stress and depression can alter telomere structure by increasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study is to preserve healthy telomere structure by controlling stress levels. In this context, Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) exercises, known to be more effective than standard exercise approaches in reducing stress and depression, will be used as an alternative. There are no studies in the literature examining the effects of BBAT on epigenetic mechanisms. This study aims to contribute to the existing literature by comparing BBAT with aerobic exercise, which is recognized as one of the most effective exercise approaches for preserving telomere structure. Furthermore, the hypothesis that telomere length changes, observed over a long period in previous studies, can be achieved in a shorter time through BBAT-an approach known to be more effective in stress management based on mind-body principles-represents one of the unique aspects of this research. The study aims to provide valuable insights into identifying the most effective exercise approaches for influencing telomere length changes

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