Lifestyle interventions and medication burden in older adults: insights from the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence for Elders (LIFE) and the Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty iN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT) trials

Elena Levati; Maria Beatrice Zazzara; Angela Iurlaro; Emanuele Marzetti; Riccardo Calvani; Marco Pahor; Anna Picca; Matteo Tosato; Francesco Landi; Roberto Bernabei; Graziano Onder

doi:10.1007/s41999-025-01266-0

Lifestyle interventions and medication burden in older adults: insights from the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence for Elders (LIFE) and the Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty iN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT) trials

Elena Levati
, Maria Beatrice Zazzara^*
, Angela Iurlaro
, Emanuele Marzetti
, Riccardo Calvani
, Marco Pahor
, Anna Picca
, Matteo Tosato
, Francesco Landi
, Roberto Bernabei
, Graziano Onder

^*Corresponding author

Università LUM

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Abstract

Aim: To assess the impact of lifestyle interventions on use of medications for treatment of common chronic conditions in older adults. Findings: In two randomized clinical trials, lifestyle interventions based on physical activity alone (LIFE trial) or in combination with nutritional counselling/dietary intervention and information and communication technology (SPRINTT trial) did not reduce the use of cardiovascular, diabetes or mood and anxiety medications. In the SPRINTT trial, lifestyle intervention was associated with increased use of pain medications. This association was not observed in the LIFE trial. Message: Based on the results of secondary analyses from two RCTs, lifestyle interventions cannot be considered an effective strategy to reduce medication burden in older adults.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1591-1598
Number of pages	8
Journal	European Geriatric Medicine
Volume	16
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-025-01266-0
Publication status	Published - 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Gerontology
Geriatrics and Gerontology

Keywords

Lifestyle intervention
Physical activity
Polypharmacy

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10.1007/s41999-025-01266-0

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Levati, E., Zazzara, M. B., Iurlaro, A., Marzetti, E., Calvani, R., Pahor, M., Picca, A., Tosato, M., Landi, F., Bernabei, R., & Onder, G. (2025). Lifestyle interventions and medication burden in older adults: insights from the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence for Elders (LIFE) and the Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty iN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT) trials. European Geriatric Medicine, 16(5), 1591-1598. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-025-01266-0

Levati, Elena ; Zazzara, Maria Beatrice ; Iurlaro, Angela et al. / Lifestyle interventions and medication burden in older adults: insights from the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence for Elders (LIFE) and the Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty iN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT) trials. In: European Geriatric Medicine. 2025 ; Vol. 16, No. 5. pp. 1591-1598.

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abstract = "Aim: To assess the impact of lifestyle interventions on use of medications for treatment of common chronic conditions in older adults. Findings: In two randomized clinical trials, lifestyle interventions based on physical activity alone (LIFE trial) or in combination with nutritional counselling/dietary intervention and information and communication technology (SPRINTT trial) did not reduce the use of cardiovascular, diabetes or mood and anxiety medications. In the SPRINTT trial, lifestyle intervention was associated with increased use of pain medications. This association was not observed in the LIFE trial. Message: Based on the results of secondary analyses from two RCTs, lifestyle interventions cannot be considered an effective strategy to reduce medication burden in older adults.",

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Levati, E, Zazzara, MB, Iurlaro, A, Marzetti, E , Calvani, R, Pahor, M, Picca, A, Tosato, M , Landi, F, Bernabei, R & Onder, G 2025, 'Lifestyle interventions and medication burden in older adults: insights from the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence for Elders (LIFE) and the Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty iN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT) trials', European Geriatric Medicine, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 1591-1598. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-025-01266-0

Lifestyle interventions and medication burden in older adults: insights from the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence for Elders (LIFE) and the Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty iN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT) trials. / Levati, Elena; Zazzara, Maria Beatrice; Iurlaro, Angela et al.
In: European Geriatric Medicine, Vol. 16, No. 5, 2025, p. 1591-1598.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

TY - JOUR

T1 - Lifestyle interventions and medication burden in older adults: insights from the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence for Elders (LIFE) and the Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty iN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT) trials

AU - Levati, Elena

AU - Zazzara, Maria Beatrice

AU - Iurlaro, Angela

AU - Marzetti, Emanuele

AU - Calvani, Riccardo

AU - Pahor, Marco

AU - Picca, Anna

AU - Tosato, Matteo

AU - Landi, Francesco

AU - Bernabei, Roberto

AU - Onder, Graziano

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Aim: To assess the impact of lifestyle interventions on use of medications for treatment of common chronic conditions in older adults. Findings: In two randomized clinical trials, lifestyle interventions based on physical activity alone (LIFE trial) or in combination with nutritional counselling/dietary intervention and information and communication technology (SPRINTT trial) did not reduce the use of cardiovascular, diabetes or mood and anxiety medications. In the SPRINTT trial, lifestyle intervention was associated with increased use of pain medications. This association was not observed in the LIFE trial. Message: Based on the results of secondary analyses from two RCTs, lifestyle interventions cannot be considered an effective strategy to reduce medication burden in older adults.

AB - Aim: To assess the impact of lifestyle interventions on use of medications for treatment of common chronic conditions in older adults. Findings: In two randomized clinical trials, lifestyle interventions based on physical activity alone (LIFE trial) or in combination with nutritional counselling/dietary intervention and information and communication technology (SPRINTT trial) did not reduce the use of cardiovascular, diabetes or mood and anxiety medications. In the SPRINTT trial, lifestyle intervention was associated with increased use of pain medications. This association was not observed in the LIFE trial. Message: Based on the results of secondary analyses from two RCTs, lifestyle interventions cannot be considered an effective strategy to reduce medication burden in older adults.

KW - Lifestyle intervention

KW - Physical activity

KW - Polypharmacy

KW - Lifestyle intervention

KW - Physical activity

KW - Polypharmacy

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Levati E, Zazzara MB, Iurlaro A, Marzetti E , Calvani R, Pahor M et al. Lifestyle interventions and medication burden in older adults: insights from the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence for Elders (LIFE) and the Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty iN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT) trials. European Geriatric Medicine. 2025;16(5):1591-1598. doi: 10.1007/s41999-025-01266-0

Lifestyle interventions and medication burden in older adults: insights from the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence for Elders (LIFE) and the Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty iN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT) trials

Abstract

UN SDGs

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

Access to Document

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