The geroprotective approach to aging, which involves the long-term use of supplements and small molecule drugs to slow aging, has a big disadvantage. Different supplements and small molecules can interact in unexpected ways, potentially reducing healthspan or lifespan. This is why I favor the development of therapies to repair underlying cell and tissue damage of aging, producing actual rejuvenation. Repair therapies can be applied intermittently and should not interact with each other, providing incremental benefits.
Exercise also modestly slows aging but can interact with geroprotectors, possibly producing a net loss for long-term health. Research and commercial investment have yet to identify a pharmacological agent capturing the health benefits of exercise, so efforts to increase adherence to regular exercise continue.
Intervening on underlying aging mechanisms before disease development could extend healthy longevity, with several dietary, lifestyle, pharmacological, and genetic approaches demonstrating modifiable lifespan in model systems. However, combining geroprotectors with concurrent exercise may blunt exercise benefits associated with healthy longevity. Frequent dosing of leading geroprotectors may blunt clinically relevant improvements to cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle size/strength/power, and insulin sensitivity.