Exercise alone or combined with functional foods in aging and age-related diseases: targeting DNA damage, repair pathways, and genome integrity

Abstract

Aging is fundamentally associated with the gradual accumulation of DNA damage, which is instrumental in the initiation and advancement of age-associated pathologies, including neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Recent studies indicate that lifestyle modifications—especially the consumption of functional foods and participation in consistent physical exercise—can influence cellular and molecular processes related to DNA repair, reduction of oxidative stress, and maintenance of genomic integrity. This review consolidates contemporary research regarding how particular bioactive compounds (e.g., polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids, and flavonoids) present in functional foods, in conjunction with diverse exercise interventions, affect DNA repair processes and diminish genotoxic stress. We examine evidence from exercise-only, nutrition-only, and combined lifestyle interventions, with particular attention to whether combined interventions show additive, complementary, or genuinely synergistic effects on oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, epigenetic aging, and DNA repair-related pathways. Particular emphasis is placed on the susceptibility of the brain to DNA damage and the significance of these interventions in safeguarding neuronal integrity and cognitive capabilities. By synthesizing evidence from molecular, animal, and human research, this review underscores the therapeutic promise of functional foods and physical activity as readily available, non-pharmacological approaches to ameliorate genomic integrity and postpone the onset or progression of aging-related and neurodegenerative disorders. In conclusion, we address prevailing limitations, deficiencies in translational research, and prospective avenues for personalized lifestyle medicine aimed at enhancing DNA integrity.