Regular exercise helps not only maintain fitness, but also slow down the aging process in the body. Scientists from South Korea reported that strength and high-intensity training stimulate muscles to release a specific protein—cardiotrophin cytokine factor 1 (CLCF1)—which acts like a “molecule of youth.”
With age, the level of CLCF1 declines. As a result, muscles weaken and bones become more fragile. Regular training, however, brings CLCF1 levels back to those seen in younger individuals, helping the body counter aging.
The novelty of the discovery is that the researchers identified not just another “youth factor,” but a key link in the mechanism of rejuvenation through physical activity. When CLCF1 is blocked, almost all positive effects of training disappear. Introducing CLCF1 returns these effects even without physical activity. The researchers note that 12 to 16 weeks of strength training is enough to raise CLCF1 levels and trigger tissue recovery processes.
Although the results were obtained in mice, the finding highlights a simple truth: in motion, there is life.
