The XPRIZE Healthspan initiative identifies 100 semifinalist teams from 58 countries, each focusing on restoring immune, cognitive, or muscular function in individuals aged 50–80. With milestone funding, teams will launch clinical trials using approaches ranging from inflammasome inhibition and mitophagy activators to mesenchymal stem cell therapies, precision geroscience, and AI-driven systems biology.
Key points
100 semifinalist teams selected from over 600 registrants to develop healthspan therapies.
Top 40 and 8 FSHD teams receive $250,000 each to initiate clinical trials targeting muscle, immune, and cognitive functions.
Interventions include NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors, Urolithin A mitophagy activators, mesenchymal stem cell therapies, and AI-guided systems biology.
Why it matters:
By incentivizing structured clinical trials with milestone funding, XPRIZE Healthspan accelerates translational aging research and shifts the focus toward measurable improvements in human healthspan.
Q&A
What does healthspan mean?
How does mitophagy support healthy aging?
Why target the NLRP3 inflammasome?
What role do mesenchymal stem cells play in frailty therapy?
Read full article
Academy
Understanding Healthspan
Healthspan refers to the period of life spent in good health, free from chronic diseases and functional decline. Unlike lifespan, which counts total years lived, healthspan emphasizes quality of life and physiological resilience. As we age, damage accumulates at the molecular and cellular levels, and biological systems gradually lose capacity. Researchers study the hallmarks of aging—such as genomic instability, telomere shortening, epigenetic drift, and proteostasis loss—to understand how cells become less effective over time. Interventions aimed at these hallmarks, combined with healthy lifestyle practices like balanced nutrition, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management, offer a holistic approach to preserving healthspan and delaying age-related conditions.
The Role of Mitophagy in Healthy Aging
Mitophagy is the selective removal of damaged mitochondria, the energy factories of the cell. Over time, dysfunctional mitochondria can generate excess reactive oxygen species and impair metabolism. Through signals involving proteins such as PINK1 and Parkin, cells tag faulty mitochondria for degradation in lysosomes. Compounds like Urolithin A and interventions that activate AMPK or SIRT1 pathways can enhance this clearance process. By maintaining a healthy mitochondrial network, mitophagy supports muscle strength, cognitive performance, and immune function, making it a key mechanism in extending healthspan.
Targeting Chronic Inflammation with NLRP3 Inhibition
Chronic inflammation drives many age-related diseases, from arthritis to cardiovascular conditions. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a protein complex within immune cells that senses stress and triggers inflammatory responses. When overactive, it contributes to tissue damage and metabolic dysfunction. Inhibiting NLRP3 can reduce harmful inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, and protect organs. Drugs that block NLRP3 or its downstream signaling are in clinical development for conditions like type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and muscle wasting, illustrating how modulating the immune system can support healthspan.
Stem Cell Therapies for Age-Related Frailty
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into bone, cartilage, and fat cells and secrete factors that promote tissue repair. In aging adults, MSC dysfunction contributes to decreased regenerative capacity and increased frailty. Transplanting or activating these cells holds potential to restore muscle mass, improve bone density, and enhance immune regulation. Clinical trials are evaluating MSC-based approaches for sarcopenia and osteoarthritis. While challenges remain in scaling production and ensuring safety, stem cell therapies represent a promising avenue to directly repair age-damaged tissues and extend functional healthspan.