Why older adults respond differently to exercise

Multidimensional predictive modeling to understand mechanisms of exercise response heterogeneity in older adults

NIH-funded research Florida Institu /human/machine Cognition · NIH-11189791

This project tests whether combining endurance and strength exercise and measuring body and blood markers can reveal why some older adults improve more than others.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionFlorida Institu /human/machine Cognition NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pensacola, United States)
Project IDNIH-11189791 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would take part in a supervised program that combines walking or cycling (endurance) with weight training (strength) following public health guidelines. Researchers will measure your fitness (VO2max), muscle strength and mass, and collect blood and other samples to look at cellular signs of aging such as mitochondria, inflammation, and protein maintenance. They will use computer models to link those baseline biology measures to how much your fitness and function change with exercise. That helps them figure out why some people respond strongly to exercise while others see little benefit.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Older adults who are able to participate in supervised endurance and resistance exercise programs, including those with low fitness or muscle weakness, would be ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with severe mobility limitations, unstable heart or medical conditions, or who cannot participate in exercise sessions are unlikely to be eligible or benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could enable tailored exercise plans that help more older adults gain strength, fitness, and better quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: Prior trials show endurance and resistance training can improve fitness and strength but also demonstrate large individual differences, so using multidimensional biological and predictive modeling is a relatively new approach.

Where this research is happening

Pensacola, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.