The Journal of physiologyFeb 26, 2026

Using senolytic drugs and exercise together to refresh aging muscles

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jun 27, 2026

Abstract

Essence

Senolytics and exercise are framed as complementary ways to target senescent cells in aging heart and skeletal muscle.

Evidence

This review synthesizes preclinical and clinical studies on senescent-cell targeting, senolytics, exercise training, and cardiac and skeletal muscle outcomes.

Caveat

Because it is a review of mixed evidence, it cannot by itself prove that senolytics or exercise reverse muscle aging in patients.

Simplified

Mammalian ageing is defined as a gradual loss of the capacity to maintain tissue homeostasis or to repair tissues after injury or stress. Cellular senescence is induced by various cellular stressors, and there is accumulation of senescent cells in all tissues with ageing and chronic disease, which contributes to pathophysiology and organ deterioration. Long-term persistence of senescent cells and their senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) impairs tissue homeostasis and regenerative capacity, leading to tissue and physiological dysfunction. Senolytics are senotherapeutic agents that systemically eliminate senescent cells, and have been shown in pre-clinical and clinical studies to improve cardiac and skeletal muscle regeneration, remodelling and physiological function. Exercise training and physical activity have also been shown to have senolytic effects. In this review, we evaluate whether targeting cell senescence using senolytics can rejuvenate the heart and skeletal muscle, reversing the ageing phenotype.

Featured in

Longevity & AgingIssue #26

Quantum sensors could detect organ aging before symptoms appear

↗

Using senolytic drugs and exercise together to refresh aging muscles

Abstract

Featured in

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the longevity & aging brief