New Study Tests Exercise and Pills to Slow Aging

Getting older doesn't have to mean getting sicker, and a new study at Mount Sinai's Tisch Cancer Institute is putting that hope to the test.

Researchers are enrolling healthy adults between 65 and 80 in a novel experiment combining high-intensity interval training with anti-inflammatory medications and supplements. The goal is to combat "inflammaging," the chronic inflammation that naturally increases with age and contributes to cancer, heart disease, and dementia.

"As we get older, the immune system is shifting away from good inflammation," explains Dr. Thomas Marron, who leads the study. Instead of the short-term inflammatory response that heals injuries and fights infections, aging bodies develop persistent inflammation that damages cells and promotes disease.

The study tests three interventions that have each shown individual promise. Participants complete just 15 minutes daily of HIIT workouts mixed with resistance training, which research shows can cut cardiovascular death risk by 30% in active women compared to sedentary peers.

They also take spermidine, a supplement that stimulates autophagy, the body's natural process for cleaning up damaged cells. Our bodies produce spermidine naturally, but levels drop significantly with age.

Finally, participants receive either rapamycin or lamivudine, both FDA-approved generic medications being tested for anti-inflammatory effects in healthy older adults. Rapamycin, typically used to prevent transplant rejection, has become popular among longevity enthusiasts at low doses.

Robert Profusek, a lawyer in his 70s, joined the study hoping to extend his active years. "I don't want to get to a point where it takes me ten minutes to cross Park Avenue," he says.

After a few months of training, including bursts of jumping jacks, Profusek feels stronger. "The idea of slowing down aging, extending your runway, that's very attractive," he notes.

The Bright Side

The timing couldn't be better. By mid-century, the number of Americans reaching 100 is expected to quadruple to about 420,000 people.

While the internet overflows with unproven anti-aging products, this study represents something different: rigorous science testing accessible interventions. "You can get anything under the sun online," Marron says. "But it makes me very concerned when patients ask me, 'should I take this?' And I say, I have no idea. There's no science behind it."

This research aims to change that calculus. Rather than simply adding years to life, the scientists want to add life to those years, helping people remain vital and independent longer.

The study may finally provide evidence-based answers about what actually works to slow aging's effects.