Fig. 6.

Physical activity/exercise training may influence the outcome of the aging process by modulating key signaling pathways. Exercising results in reduced age-related oxidative damage, reduced chronic inflammation, increased autophagy, improved mitochondrial function, improved myokine profile, augmented insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling, and insulin sensitivity. These actions promote beneficial effects on skeletal muscle (muscle mass, strength, and function) but also at systemic level, inducing improvements in function of cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic systems. Exercise-induced improvements in muscle function as well as systemic benefits and age-related chronic diseases alleviation are all related to the improvements in physical function and frailty improvement by exercise/physical activity.