Healthy aging innovations: Nutrition to unlock cognition, cellular health, and immunity

In an increasingly aging global society, people typically spend the last ten years of their life in poorer health. The nutrition industry is exploring healthy aging solutions that address key consumer concerns as they age — supporting the gut microbiome, cellular and cognitive health, immunity, and muscle health.

Nutrition Insight meets with dsm-firmenich, SuanNutra, Finzelberg, Tirlán, Gnosis by Lesaffre, and the ACI Group to look at new ingredients, science, and technological innovations in healthy aging. 

“We’re moving toward an era where aging well isn’t just about living longer — it’s about maintaining vitality and independence throughout life,” says Endrigo Ramos, associate director of Global Marketing Dietary Supplements for Healthy Longevity at dsm-firmenich. 

“Consequently, this moment doesn’t only provide a market opportunity but a chance to fundamentally improve quality of life for an aging global population by increasing health expectancy — ensuring that our latter years are not lost to illness and infirmity, but remain some of our best.”

Scientists have identified 12 distinct but interacting “hallmarks of aging,” biochemical changes that occur through biological aging. These key factors appear as people age and experimentally increasing them speeds up aging. Therapeutic interventions can slow down, stop, or reverse them. 

According to Ramos, research demonstrates that nutritional interventions at cellular and system levels can influence several of these hallmarks of aging — cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and gut dysbiosis. 

“A shift in focus from treating individual age-related conditions to addressing the underlying mechanisms of aging itself has occurred with this more nuanced understanding.”

Cellular-level nutrition support

Ramos emphasizes that the healthy aging market must address immediate health concerns while targeting fundamental cellular mechanisms of aging. 

The company’s consumer research highlights multiple priority areas: “bone and joint health (51%), mental and emotional well-being (48%), heart health (46%), immunity (44%), and energy levels (40%).” 

“To address these needs, nutrition products must evolve from traditional reactive supplementation toward proactive solutions that combine cellular-level nutrition with comprehensive wellness support, addressing both immediate health concerns and long-term cellular aging processes.” 

Ramos says scientists have identified 12 “hallmarks of aging,” biochemical changes that occur through biological aging.Amid this cellular health for longevity trend, Stephanie Guillen, chief commercial officer at SuanNutra, says there is a growing interest in ingredients that support mitochondrial function and DNA integrity. She details that research highlights mitochondrial health, gut microbiome balance, and personalized nutrition as key pillars of healthy aging. 

“Mitochondria play a vital role in energy production, cognitive function, and resilience, making their optimization essential for longevity. Simultaneously, the gut microbiome regulates inflammation, metabolism, and brain health, reinforcing its role in aging well.” 

“The future of aging is science-driven, personalized wellness that empowers individuals to thrive,” Guillen predicts. “The most significant breakthrough is precision nutrition, leveraging genetic and microbiome insights to create tailored strategies beyond one-size-fits-all solutions.” 

Technological innovations

The professionals emphasize that technology is fundamentally transforming the healthy aging market.

Ramos from dsm-firmenich expert says the development of advanced biomarkers and “aging clocks” has revolutionized the measurement of biological age versus chronological age. 

“These sophisticated tools can now track age-related changes from the cellular level to whole-body systems, enabling precise measurement of how nutritional interventions affect aging processes and validating the effectiveness of new supplement formulations.” 

Guillen adds that technology also drives innovative ingredient development and personalized wellness solutions. “AI is revolutionizing the discovery of bioactive compounds with anti-aging potential, enabling more efficient identification of longevity-supporting ingredients.”

Companies can leverage genetic and microbiome data in personalized nutrition to develop tailored supplement regimens. “Digital health solutions ensure individuals receive nutrients suited to their unique needs, enhancing the effectiveness of their wellness strategies,” she explains.

“Innovations in encapsulation and delivery technologies are also improving ingredient bioavailability, ensuring active compounds are absorbed more effectively by the body. This enhances supplementation efficacy, helping consumers achieve better health outcomes.”

Martin Felkner, senior expert in Branded Ingredients at Finzelberg, points to early markers of cognitive decline as “one of the most interesting areas of scientific development,” such as investigating midlife factors that can shape cognitive health and advanced neuroimaging techniques to study brain structure and function changes. 

“This research has transformed our definition of healthy aging from a narrow focus on physical health to a comprehensive view encompassing cognitive function, emotional well-being, and social engagement.”

Felkner says consumers seek natural and science-backed ingredients to manage cognitive health during aging.Cognitive health boosts

Felkner says cognitive health is one of the foremost trends in healthy aging. Data from Innova Market Insights indicates mental acuity was one of the fastest-growing health claims for new supplement launches in the category, growing 54% CAGR from October 2019 to September 2024. 

“During aging, our brains undergo natural changes that can affect cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. Other factors, such as the decline of cognitive performance, impacting our ability to learn and navigate complex neural activities and communication as we age, and reduced blood flow, show a clear line of approach for formulators looking to meet this trend head-on.”

He highlights that consumers seek natural, plant-based, and science-backed ingredients and compounds in this competitive market to manage cognitive health during aging. 

“These include botanicals such as Rhodiola rosea, traditionally used to combat stress and fatigue and enhance mental and physical performance, learning, and memory functions; Sideritis species, which can increase cerebral blood flow to the brain to improve mental flexibility and proper brain functioning; and mushrooms, like lion’s mane known for its neuroprotective effects.” 

Finzelberg offers a solution derived from Sideritis species that enhances blood and oxygen flow to the brain. Felkner says the company’s Concental is a plant-based and non-stimulant brain essential. 

“Backed by proprietary clinical trials, Concental offers a dual approach: regulating cerebral blood flow while modulating key neurotransmitters, showing significant benefits for mental flexibility and memory.”

Keith Cooney, marketing manager in Dairy Proteins at Tirlán, adds that there is a growing interest in how the gut microbiome influences brain function through the gut-brain axis. “Emotional well-being is increasingly acknowledged as essential to overall health, further reinforcing the need for comprehensive, lifestyle-based approaches to aging.”

According to Cooney, a high-protein diet helps maintain muscle function and prevent deterioration.Protein muscle power

Cooney also observes a growing recognition of the importance of higher protein consumption for improved healthy aging, especially for consumers in midlife and beyond. 

“The products and ingredients most popular to address healthy aging are high-quality protein powders, whey, and plant-based products.”

He explains that high-protein products are essential to combat age-related sarcopenia — the gradual loss of muscle mass. 

“A high-protein diet is recommended to help maintain muscle function and prevent deterioration,” Cooney highlights. “Innovations such as high-protein shakes and supplements that include essential amino acids are critical for supporting muscle synthesis and overall mobility.”

He details Tirlán’s range of protein ingredients, including whey protein isolates, milk protein concentrates, and the company’s Avonol Whey Protein Concentrate 35, to help manufacturers achieve the desired protein content and functionality in their products. 

Regarding popular delivery formats for protein intake, he points to grab-and-go convenience products such as protein ready-to-mix and ready-to-drink solutions. 

Anti-inflammatory immune health

Immunity is another key focus area in healthy aging. Silvia Pisoni, global market manager at Gnosis by Lesaffre, says that age 65 is often tagged as the target age for virus vulnerability, illustrating the importance of a healthy immune system. 

“Chronic low-grade inflammation, often caused by an imbalance of the immune response, can be a major contributor to many conditions,” she explains. “Low-grade inflammation associated with aging, often called ‘inflammaging,’ is believed to contribute to many chronic diseases affecting elderly individuals.” 

Pisoni says that age 65 is often tagged as the target age for virus vulnerability, illustrating the importance of a healthy immune system.Pisoni explains that the gut microbiome is heavily involved in developing inflammation by releasing inflammatory mediators. “Probiotics are known to help restore a healthy balance of the gut microbiota and improve barrier function.”

She adds: “Based on a previous clinical study showing its immune stimulation ability, our patented spore-forming strain Bacillus subtilis CNCM I-2745 (LifeinU BSCU1) was just shown in a new study to reduce low-grade inflammation in the elderly.”

“BSCU1 primed immune cells for a more effective response to microbial challenges and reduced low-grade inflammation associated with aging,” explains Pisoni. 

In this new study, 88 participants from three different age groups received the BSCU1 probiotic for four weeks at two daily doses of 109 CFU. The researchers found a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines — small proteins that help control the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells.

Spotlight on polyphenols

Sam Lubbock-Smith, business development manager at ACI Group, highlights the healthy aging benefits of plant-based ingredients associated with the Mediterranean diet — red grape seed and extra virgin olive oil extracts. 

He details that extracts from extra virgin olive oils are typically rich in hydroxytyrosol. This natural antioxidant offers “meaningful cholesterol support and can regulate the expression of genes in tumor cell proliferation.”

“In addition, it is the only phenolic compound recognized by the European Food Safety Authority for its ability to protect blood lipids from oxidative stress.” 

Lubbock-Smith also points to the high resveratrol content in red grape seed extract, a polyphenol found in red wine and the skin and seeds of red grapes. “This compound assists in combating oxidative stress, offers cardiovascular benefits, and can limit plague formation associated with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment.”

He emphasizes there is a growing scientific knowledge of resveratrol’s ability to protect the body against oxidative damage that could increase disease risk associated with age, including cancer, heart disease, and cognitive decline.

In addition, he says the antioxidant is a “potent ally in the fight against bad cholesterol, offering HDL (‘good’) cholesterol support, the ability to combat oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, and offering cardiovascular support.”