Researchers want to test if a combination of interventions can help people remain vital for longer.
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There’s a new study underway to test whether it’s possible to fend off age-related diseases with a novel combination of high-intensity interval training and anti-inflammatory medicines and supplements.
The small study includes healthy older adults, aged 65 to 80, who have agreed to try HIIT training, which includes short bursts of cardio, mixed with resistance training. In addition, all the participants will take daily capsules of spermidine, a supplement that is often marketed for healthy aging, as well as a generic medication that has potent anti-inflammatory effects.
“As we get older, the immune system is shifting away from good inflammation,” which is the body’s short-term, acute response to fend off injury or
In contrast, pathogenic inflammation can stem from overactive immune cells releasing inflammatory signals after a prolonged response to a bacteria or virus. People also get chronic inflammation simply due to aging, which has been termed inflammaging. “It’s not necessarily that we’re getting more infections as we age, it’s that we’re getting more inflamed in general, as the immune system wanes. “It’s this sort of bad inflammation that underlies the development of many different diseases,” Marron says, everything from cancer, to heart disease to 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.
“I’ve reached the age where I worry about aging well,” says study participant Robert Profusek, a lawyer in his 70s, who says he wants to stay as healthy and physically active as possible. “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 high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, mixed with resistance-band workouts, Profusek says he can feel the benefits.
People who exercise regularly can reduce the risk of developing metabolic diseases,in part,due to the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise. And large observational studies have found that women who exercise and do strength training cut the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 30%, compared to their less active peers.
Researchers chose to add the supplement spermidine to the mix, given research that shows spermidine can stimulate autophagy, which is the body’s way of cleaning up damaged cells and reducing inflammation. Our bodies make spermidine naturally, but, as we age, production declines substantially, leading to lower levels. Spermidine supplements have been shown to extend lifespan in preliminary animal studies.
The study includes two types of generic medications. Half the participants will take lamivudine, which is an antiviral drug used to treat HIV and hepatitis B.The other half will take disulfiram, a drug used to treat alcohol dependence. Both drugs have shown promise in preliminary studies for their potential anti-aging effects.Marron’s team will take blood samples from all the participants at multiple points throughout the year-long study, and they will analyze changes in markers of inflammation using a high-tech, high-resolution OLink panel.
Centenarians in the U.S. Number 97,000 as of January 1, 2026
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The United States is home to 97,000 centenarians - individuals aged 100 or older – as of January 1, 2026, according to the U.S. census Bureau. This represents a 5.7% increase from the 91,900 centenarians recorded on January 1,2025,continuing a decades-long trend of increasing longevity.
Growth in the Centenarian Population
The centenarian population has experienced significant growth over the past century.In 1950,there were only 3,700 centenarians in the U.S., representing 0.003% of the total population. By 2000, this number had risen to 74,906, and continued to climb in subsequent decades. This growth is attributed to advancements in public health, healthcare, and living standards.
Demographic breakdown
The vast majority of centenarians are women. As of January 1,2026,women comprise approximately 80% of the centenarian population. This disparity is largely due to biological factors and historically, women having longer life expectancies than men. Specifically, 77,760 of the 97,000 centenarians are women, while 19,240 are men. The oldest living american, as of January 19, 2026, is believed to be Ethel Shapiro of Maine, aged 116 years and 24 days.
Health and Well-being
While reaching 100 years of age is a remarkable achievement, centenarians often face meaningful health challenges. common conditions include arthritis, heart disease, and dementia.However, research suggests that many centenarians possess genetic predispositions and lifestyle factors that contribute to their longevity and resilience. A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2024 found that centenarians are more likely to carry certain gene variants associated with reduced inflammation and improved cardiovascular health.
The Social security Governance estimates that approximately 40% of centenarians require assistance with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, and eating. The average annual cost of assisted living for a centenarian is $115,800 as of 2025, according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/january/centenarians-2026.html (Accessed January 19, 2026)
