Exercise helps some genes prolong life

Certain genes may play an important role in prolonging lifespan if coupled with a healthy environment that includes exercise, a new study has claimed. Researchers studied the genes in the brain’s dopamine system to assess their impact on lifespan and behavior in mice. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centres and helps regulate physical mobility and emotional response. The mice in the enriched environment lived anywhere from 16 to 22% longer than those in a deprived environment, depending on the level of D2R expression, said Panayotis K Thanos from University at Buffalo in the US.