Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the relationship between physical activity (PA) and biological age, aiming to evaluate PA’s role in promoting healthy aging. Biological age, assessed through markers such as epigenetic clocks, telomere length, and physiological indicators, reflects an individual’s true functional aging status more accurately than chronological age. A comprehensive literature search across major databases identified 23 longitudinal studies encompassing a total of 174,114 adults aged 20 to 87 years. The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between PA and healthy biological aging, with a pooled effect size of 1.39, indicating that higher levels of PA are linked to slower biological aging. Subgroup analyses revealed that consistent engagement in moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity yielded the most beneficial effects. These findings underscore the critical role of physical activity in modulating biological aging mechanisms and support the implementation of inclusive, accessible public health strategies that encourage regular PA across the lifespan. The results also highlight the need for standardized methodologies in measuring both physical activity and biological age to improve comparability across future studies. Further research, particularly through randomized controlled trials, is needed to examine the long-term effects of different exercise modalities and intensities on the biological aging process.
Presenters
Angie TaylorChief Inclusivity Officer and Lecturer, Student Experience, Alfred University, New York, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Aging, Intergenerational Solidarity and the Polycrisis
KEYWORDS
Physical Activity, Biological Age, Aging, Health Outcomes, Longitudinal Studies, Meta-Analysis
