As the quest to combat age-related diseases continues, a new study is exploring the potential of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) combined with anti-inflammatory treatments to promote healthy aging. The study seeks to understand how this unique approach can impact the aging process.
The research involves healthy individuals aged 65 to 80 who are participating in a regimen of HIIT, which consists of intense cardiovascular and resistance exercises. These participants also consume daily doses of spermidine supplements, known for their aging health benefits, and a widely used anti-inflammatory medication.
Dr. Thomas Marron, a leading researcher in this study from The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai, explains, “As we get older, the immune system is shifting away from good inflammation.” He emphasizes that aging leads to increased chronic inflammation, often referred to as inflammaging.
In this study, the goal is to mitigate “bad inflammation” that contributes to diseases like cancer, heart disease, and dementia. “We hope that by decreasing this inflammation, we may be able to decrease the incidence of these diseases that become more common with age and we can promote more healthy aging,” Marron says.
Robert Profusek, a participant in the study, shares his experience. In his 70s, he is eager to maintain his health and activity levels. “I don’t want to get to a point where it takes me ten minutes to cross Park Avenue,” he remarks. The daily 15-minute workouts, consisting of exercises like jumping jacks, have proven beneficial. “It’s good for me,” he states.
With a growing number of people expected to live past 100, the research aligns with an increased interest in anti-aging solutions. “You can get anything under the sun online,” Marron notes, expressing caution over unverified treatments.
The investigation is a pioneering effort to validate a combination of interventions, including exercise, spermidine, and medications such as lamivudine and rapamycin. The study will track changes in inflammation markers through advanced proteomic analysis of blood samples.
Researchers are optimistic about reducing harmful inflammation linked to aging. They are contenders in the XPRIZE Healthspan competition, aiming to enhance vitality and extend healthy lifespans. “It’s a moonshot,” says Miriam Merad from Mount Sinai, underlining the significance of pioneering groundwork for vitality.
For Profusek and others, the prospect of extended vitality through such interventions is enticing. “If you can do something like a regimen like this, to make your vitality extend,” he questions, “why wouldn’t you?”
Copyright 2026 NPR
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