Exercise as an Anti-Aging Intervention: Targeting the Hallmarks of Aging

Aging is characterized by a progressive decline in physiological integrity, leading to impaired function and increased vulnerability to disease. The framework of the hallmarks of aging, including mitochondrial dysfunction, genomic instability, cellular senescence, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient sensing, and altered intercellular communication, has provided a unifying biological foundation for understanding these processes. Exercise stands out as one of the most effective, accessible, and multifaceted interventions to counteract these hallmarks at molecular, cellular, and systemic levels. Accumulating evidence shows that regular physical activity modulates mitochondrial biogenesis, improves autophagy, enhances proteostasis, maintains telomere length, reduces inflammation, and supports stem cell function. Yet, despite compelling data, how different exercise modalities, intensities, and timings most effectively target specific aging mechanisms remains poorly defined.

This Research Topic aims to integrate cutting‑edge insights from molecular geroscience, physiology, and clinical research to elucidate how exercise mitigates aging processes and extends healthspan. We invite contributions exploring exercise-induced modulation of canonical and emerging hallmarks of aging, studies assessing functional and molecular biomarkers of biological age, and interventions comparing exercise with or in combination with other geroprotective strategies such as caloric restriction, senolytics, or NAD+ boosters. The objective is to bridge mechanistic understanding with translational applications, emphasizing how exercise can serve as a model intervention for systemic rejuvenation, prevention of age‑related diseases, and maintenance of functional independence across the lifespan.

To gather further insights into exercise as an anti‑aging intervention, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Exercise modulation of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dynamics, and cellular senescence
- Impact of endurance, resistance, or high‑intensity intermittent training on the hallmarks of aging
- Proteostasis, autophagy, and metabolic reprogramming in response to training
- Exercise influences on stem cell function, tissue regeneration, and telomere biology
- Anti‑inflammatory and immunosenescence‑modulating effects of physical activity
- Exercise and epigenetic age: DNA methylation clocks and transcriptomic remodeling
- Synergistic effects of exercise with dietary or pharmacological geroprotectors
- Sex, age, and genetic variability in exercise-induced healthy aging responses
- Translational and clinical implications for sarcopenia, frailty, metabolic, and cognitive aging

Original Research, Review Articles, Clinical Trials, Mini Reviews, Hypothesis & Theory, and Perspectives are encouraged.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: exercise, anti-aging, physical activity, hallmarks of aging, healthspan, longevity, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, cellular senescence, proteostasis, autophagy, nutrient sensing, telomere biology, epigenetic aging, inflammation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.