Exercise programs that bring older and younger people together may help older adults become more active and physically capable, but the evidence behind that claim is fragile, according to a systematic review published in the European Review of Aging and Physical Activity.
The review, led by Robert Trull-Viñolas and colleagues, set out to evaluate whether intergenerational exercise interventions can reduce sedentary behaviour, increase physical activity, or improve physical performance in adults aged 60 and over. The work was registered in PROSPERO under reference CRD42024521977 and followed the PRISMA 2020 reporting guidelines.
The researchers searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane from database inception to October 31, 2025. To be eligible, studies had to be experimental or quasi-experimental, involve exercise-based interventions targeting older adults without severe dementia, include younger participants, incorporate intergenerational connections, and measure physical activity, physical performance or sedentary behaviour at least before and after the intervention.
From 299 non-duplicate records identified, only seven studies met the inclusion criteria: one clinical trial, four quasi-experimental studies, one pilot crossover study and one pilot randomized clinical study. Together they comprised 248 older adults aged between 67.6 and 83.6 years. All of the interventions were conducted in high-income countries, delivered face-to-face, and based in community settings, although the settings did not all represent traditional physical activity environments.
Across the seven studies, the interventions were associated with improvements in physical activity, physical performance and psychosocial outcomes such as life satisfaction and loneliness. However, some effects, particularly those related to motor skills and mobility, were small or not statistically significant. The authors note that outcomes were assessed using different measurement approaches across studies, which complicates direct comparison.
Because of the heterogeneity of the included studies, the review concludes that strong conclusions cannot be drawn. The small number of eligible trials, the variety of settings and outcome measures, and the mix of study designs all limit how much confidence can be placed in any single summary of the findings.
The review’s authors also assessed risk of bias in the included studies using the RoB 2 and RoBANS 2 tools. Their conclusion is cautious: although intergenerational exercise-based interventions appear valuable for improving activity levels, and are described as even more promising for improving secondary outcomes in older adults, the available evidence is limited by the predominance of low-quality studies and a high risk of bias in most trials.
The context for this research is that older adults are described as the most sedentary population segment, which the authors say highlights the need for sustainable interventions that promote lasting behavioural change in this group. Intergenerational exercise programmes are proposed as one approach that may improve adherence and support lasting benefits, but the review was designed to test that proposition against the published evidence rather than assume it.
For now, the findings should be interpreted with caution, the authors write, and confirmed in future high-quality studies. With only seven studies and 248 participants meeting the criteria, the review functions more as a map of a sparse research landscape than as a definitive verdict on intergenerational exercise. The published version is an open-access article made available early as a peer-reviewed, accepted manuscript subject to further edits.
The review’s registered protocol, systematic search strategy and formal risk-of-bias assessment give it methodological transparency, but the underlying evidence base remains thin. Whether bringing generations together in shared exercise settings can reliably reduce sedentary time or improve mobility in older adults is a question that larger, better-designed trials will need to answer.
Subject of Research: The effects of intergenerational exercise interventions on physical activity and physical performance in older adults
Article Title: Effects of intergenerational exercise-based interventions on activity levels and physical performance in older adults: a systematic review
Article References: Trull-Viñolas, R., Paredes, X., Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe, A., Solà , J., Capellà , I., Jerez-Roig, J., Cardon, G., & Giné-Garriga, M. (2026). Effects of intergenerational exercise-based interventions on activity levels and physical performance in older adults: a systematic review. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11556-026-00437-7
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1186/s11556-026-00437-7
Keywords: intergenerational exercise, older adults, systematic review, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, physical performance, risk of bias, PRISMA, community-based interventions, psychosocial outcomes, Effects, intergenerational
News Source: Ophelia Keating. (October 28, 2026). Intergenerational exercise programs show promise for older adults, but evidence quality remains low. Scienmag.
