A research article published in Nature journal found the cell profile in middle-aged people who regularly engaged in endurance exercise demonstrated similar health to people in their 20s.

The study looked into cell senescence - a process where cells stop dividing and secrete pro-cancer and pro-inflammatory proteins - which increases as people age.

The process can also be accelerated by alcohol, smoking, UV damage, exposure to pollution, excessive calorie intake and low physical activity.

Researchers found a group of men aged in their 40s, 50s and 60s - who ran about 77 kilometres a week - demonstrated low rates of cell senescence compared to similarly aged sedentary but healthy men.

But interestingly, the group of runners also had senescent cell marker levels on par with young and healthy men in their 20s.

While the study did not look into why this was the case, it suggested endurance exercise may blunt cell senescence by lowering insulin levels - a key hormone to the process.

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It also increases DNA and antioxidant repair pathways, and improves autophagy - the clearing of old and damaged cells.

While resistance training like lifting weights is also great for cell health, it is considered less powerful than exercise like running and cycling at improving insulin sensitivity.

But researchers warn overdoing it could re-accelerate the ageing process.

Another UK study presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester in 2022 found men aged 40 and over who competed regularly in events like marathons had a vascular age 10 years older than their chronological age.

The group of athletes were found to stiffer major arteries than expected for their age group putting them at a higher risk of heart and circulatory diseases.