The U.S. population is aging, with the 65+ population growing much faster than under-65s. Over 17% of Americans were 65+ in 2022 (32 million women and 26 million men), and this is predicted to reach 23% by 2050, according to the Population Reference Bureau.
In addition, people are living longer, and with that comes a new focus on healthspan, which is leading to increased interest in protecting muscles as we age (and beating sarcopenia), along with the rise of geroscience, the scientific study of the fundamental biology of aging. This in turn is creating opportunities for nutritional interventions to support healthspan and improve cellular aging, with numerous ingredients and formulations already positioned on the market as ‘geroprotective’.
The upcoming Sports & Active Nutrition Summit (SANS) in San Diego will feature two sessions that will lead attendees on a journey through the current state of play for cellular health and the prospects for supporting active older consumers.
Cellular energy and health
Day 2 of SANS 2026 will explore our current understanding of cellular energy and how cellular function is a key focus for older generations. In his presentation, Mark Tarnopolsky, MD, chief executive officer of StayAbove Nutrition, will discuss the use of multi-ingredient supplements to enhance exercise training adaptations in older adults, and Maura MacDonald, MS, RD, medical education specialist at Thorne, that will examine the overlap between aging research and athletic performance.
The cellular energy and health session will also explain why mitochondria are key targets for interventions, highlight the bioactives showing the most promise and feature a panel discussion on boosting NAD+, along with the lessons and opportunities for sports and active nutrition brands.
Older consumers: Maintaining muscle and beating sarcopenia
Following this, we’ll transition to focusing on muscle health for active older consumers to explore how ingredients like protein, creatine, HMB, beta-alanine, vitamin D and magnesium can combine with resistance exercise to retain muscle as we age.
Muscle loss is a natural part of aging, and researchers have estimated that, after the age of 50, we lose 1% to 2% of our muscles each year. Strength declines as well, at a rate of 1.5% per year beginning at age 50, accelerating to 3% after the age of 60.
According to a monograph from the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the direct health care cost attributable to sarcopenia (degenerative muscle loss) was estimated to be $18.5 billion in 2000 in the United States, equivalent to approximately 1.5% of health care expenditures that year.
This represents a significant market for products to combat age-related muscle loss and all the associated negative health effects.
Presenting experts include David Church, PhD, director of the UAMS Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity, Peter Michael Stone, MD, resident physician at the Ashland Comprehensive Family Medicine and Stone Medical, Susan Kleiner, PhD, founder and owner of High Performance Nutrition, and Dr. Jean Nyakayiru, scientist in protein, muscle and mobility at FrieslandCampina Ingredients.
Mark LeDoux, founder and CEO of CarnoSyn, will then join Drs. Church and Kleiner for a in-depth panel discussion to close out the session.
SANS: New venue for 2026
Registration is already open for the three-day Sports & Active Nutrition Summit. After a sell-out summit in 2025 (300 attendees from 18 countries), NutraIngredients is moving the event to a new venue, The Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
Taking place Feb. 18 to 20, 2026, the Sports & Active Nutrition Summit USA remains the must-attend event for industry leaders, bringing together cutting-edge science, business strategy and regulatory insights that are shaping the future of sports and active nutrition.
