David C. Andrade, PhD | High Altitude Physiology and Medicine Research Center (FIMEDALT), Biomedical Department Faculty of Health Sciences; Camila Salazar-Ardiles, PhD
Competition Sponsor: National Agency for Research and Development of Chile
Awardee Year: 2025
Chile is one of the Latin American countries with the largest number of older adults (subjects over 60 years), and it is expected that this percentage will be greater by 2050. The increase in the number of older people can be attributed in part to improvements in the healthcare system and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle; however, the aging population also requires targeted strategies to enhance their quality of life. Aging is a health challenge for healthcare systems worldwide; therefore, working with older people is currently a priority that must be addressed. Interestingly, a relationship between aging and microbiome dysbiosis has been established, which impacts the overall health of metabolism during aging. Notably, it has been shown that endurance (End) training can modify the gut microbiome, while resistance training does not affect. Similarly, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) combined with resistance training (a concurrent training modality) improved the gut microbiome. The improvement of the gut microbiome can be explained by bacterial strains, many of which are anaerobic bacteria. As one of the principal characteristics of physical exercise is metabolic stress, it could serve as a substrate for the bacteria, consequently improving the gut microbiome. However, no evidence shows the effects of different training regimens (HIIT, End, and HITT+End) on microbiome health in older adults. We hypothesize that a long-term concurrent training (HIIT+End) regimen enhances microbiome health and improves mental health and social interaction, slowing aging in older individuals.