Aging is accompanied by an increased prevalence of degenerative conditions, including
those affecting ocular health, which significantly impact quality of life and increase
the burden on healthcare systems. Among these, retinal aging is of particular concern
due to its direct link to vision impairment, a leading cause of disability in the
elderly. Vision loss in the aging population is associated with heightened risks of
cognitive decline, social isolation, and morbidity. This study addresses the critical
gap in our understanding of modifiable lifestyle factors, such as physical exercise,
that may mitigate retinal aging and its related pathologies. We investigated the effects
of different exercise regimens—voluntary (recreational-type) and forced (high-intensity)—on
the retinal health of aging Wistar rats (18-month-old), serving as a model for studying
the translational potential of exercise interventions in humans. Male Wistar rats
were divided into four groups: a young control (3-month-old) for baseline comparison,
an aged sedentary control, an aged group engaging in voluntary exercise via a running
wheel in their cage, and an aged group subjected to forced exercise on a treadmill
for six sessions of 20 min each per week. After a 6-month experimental period, we
assessed retinal function via electroretinography (ERG), measured retinal thickness
histologically, and analyzed protein expression changes relevant to oxidative stress,
inflammation, and anti-aging mechanisms. Our findings reveal that voluntary exercise
positively impacts retinal function and morphology, reducing oxidative stress and
inflammation markers while enhancing anti-aging protein expression. In contrast, forced
exercise showed diminished benefits. These insights underscore the importance of exercise
intensity and preference in preserving retinal health during aging. The study highlights
the potential of recreational physical activity as a non-invasive strategy to counteract
retinal aging, advocating for further research into exercise regimens as preventative
therapies for age-related ocular degenerations.
