{
    "title": "VUB Professor Rose Njemini: \"Exercise is the most powerful medicine for healthy aging\"",
    "modified_at": "2025-03-27 15:00:07",
    "published_at": "2025-03-27 15:00:00",
    "url": "https://press.vub.ac.be/vub-professor-rose-njemini-exercise-is-the-most-powerful-medicine-for-healthy-aging",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/GPhd",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "Professor Dr. Rose Njemini, expert in biological aging at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, joins the Royal Academy of Medicine",
    "slug": "vub-professor-rose-njemini-exercise-is-the-most-powerful-medicine-for-healthy-aging",
    "body": "<p>Aging is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which contributes to conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and neurodegeneration. &quot;As we age, our immune system weakens, and senescent cells accumulate, triggering inflammation,&quot; explains Professor Njemini. Her research highlights that strength training counteracts these processes by activating various mechanisms, including myokines and stress proteins that enhance cellular resilience and immune function.</p><p>Professor Njemini&rsquo;s studies show that older adults who engage in strength training three times a week experience a shift from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory responses, along with an increase in muscle mass. &quot;Stronger muscles mean greater mobility, independence, and resilience against chronic diseases,&quot; she says.</p><p>With over 25 years of research experience, Professor Njemini will advise on aging and health policies as a member of the Royal Academy, emphasizing the crucial role of strength training in preventing age-related diseases. She advocates for recognizing exercise as a fundamental component of elderly care. &quot;Strength training should be given the same priority as medication in managing age-related diseases. Even people in their eighties can regain muscle strength with the right approach,&quot; concludes Professor Njemini.</p><h4 id=\"about-prof-dr-rose-njemini\" >About Prof. Dr. Rose Njemini</h4><p>Prof. Dr. Rose Njemini is a molecular biologist and biochemist specializing in aging and immunology. She is vice-chair of the research master&rsquo;s program in Gerontological Sciences at VUB and has been a member of the Royal Academy of Medicine since 2024.</p><p>\ud83d\udd17 <a href=\"https://fria.research.vub.be/en/rose-njemini\">More about Prof. Dr. Rose Njemini</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-7e7e564b-8219-418a-ac9c-1eaa477fe13d\">\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__avatar\"><img src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/96e3692f-39a4-433b-b0ee-9008befa578f/-/crop/1117x1118/419,0/-/preview/-/scale_crop/128x128/center/-/format/auto/\" alt=\"Koen Stein\" class=\"release-content-contact__avatar-image\" /></div>\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Koen Stein</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Perscontact wetenschap &amp; onderzoek</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:koen.stein@vub.be\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"koen.stein@vub.be\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>koen.stein@vub.be</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"tel:+32 (0)471517909\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"+32 (0)471517909\"><svg class=\"icon icon-mobile release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-mobile\"></use>\n            </svg>+32 (0)471517909</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://vub.be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"vub.be\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>vub.be</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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            "name": "Koen Stein",
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