Exercise and multidomain interventions linked to longer healthspan in humans

Of 1,960 publications screened, 15 studies involving 4,656 participants met inclusion criteria. The interventions tested included exercise alone (7 studies), multidomain programs that incorporated exercise plus cognitive training or social engagement (6 studies), oral supplementation (2 studies), and caloric restriction (1 study). Eleven of the 15 studies reported that exercise or multidomain interventions improved intrinsic capacity and quality of life, with benefits observed across both aerobic and resistance training modalities. However, significant heterogeneity in study design, outcome measures, and participant populations limited the ability to draw firm conclusions about non-exercise interventions. The authors noted that while exercise shows promise, further research across diverse age groups and health conditions is needed to clarify the durability of gains and optimal exercise prescriptions for healthspan extension.

Among the 11 positive studies, the benefits of exercise held across different formats: some tested structured aerobic training, others resistance work, and some combined modalities—suggesting flexibility in how exercise might be applied. The multidomain interventions (which all included exercise) typically added cognitive challenges, social activities, or other lifestyle components; while these showed promise, the review could not isolate whether added elements beyond exercise drove additional gains. Notably, the two supplementation studies and single caloric restriction trial did not report improvements in intrinsic capacity or quality of life, highlighting that simple pill-based or dietary approaches alone may not extend healthspan in the way structured physical activity does. The review's primary limitation was the small number of trials per intervention type and variation in how healthspan was measured across studies—some used standardized scales while others employed study-specific assessments. This heterogeneity means the findings, while encouraging for exercise, cannot yet be generalized to all older adults or younger populations, and long-term durability beyond the study periods remains unknown.