Skip the Gym: This Natural Compound Mimics Exercise and Slows Aging, Study Finds
By Rizwana Warsi | July 2025 | Longevity + Wellness
We all know exercise is basically magic—it protects your heart, sharpens your brain, torches fat, boosts mood, and slows aging. But what if science found a way to deliver those benefits without breaking a sweat?
Well, a new study published in Science just turned that dream into a very real possibility.
Researchers have discovered a natural-like compound, dubbed SLU-PP-332, that mimics the biological benefits of physical activity, including enhanced metabolism, improved endurance, and reduced age-related decline.
Let’s break it all down—no gym membership required.
The Study: Exercise Effects Without Exercise
Conducted by a team from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the study focused on a compound that activates a family of proteins called ERRs (Estrogen-Related Receptors).
These ERRs are critical regulators of energy metabolism, and they're naturally activated during exercise. But here’s the twist: the researchers found that by using SLU-PP-332, they could trigger ERR activity in sedentary mice—without any exercise at all.
🔬 Key Findings:
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Mice treated with SLU-PP-332 showed improved endurance—they could run nearly two times longer than untreated mice.
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Increased mitochondrial function in muscle cells (more power plants = more energy).
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Enhanced fat burning and energy use.
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Most exciting: a reduction in age-related muscle and metabolic decline—basically, the mice were aging slower.
📚 Source: Science journal, DOI: 10.1126/science.adn4885
🧬 How SLU-PP-332 Works
This is where it gets geeky—in a good way.
ERRs don’t respond to estrogen, despite the name. They’re “orphan” receptors that are activated under specific stress signals, like exercise or fasting. When turned on, they boost:
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Mitochondrial biogenesis (more energy production)
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Fatty acid oxidation (burning fat)
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Glucose uptake (blood sugar control)
Normally, these benefits only happen when you move. But SLU-PP-332 “flips the switch” without movement, making your cells behave like they’re in full-on workout mode.
Imagine your muscles getting stronger and more efficient… while you’re watching Netflix. That’s the dream SLU-PP-332 teases.
🧓 Why It Matters: Hope for Aging, Disease & Immobility
Let’s be clear: the potential here is huge—especially for people who can’t exercise.
🔹 Aging adults often lose mobility and muscle strength, leading to falls, disease, and frailty.
🔹 People with Parkinson’s, MS, or arthritis often can’t tolerate intense physical activity.
🔹 Diabetics and the obese need better tools to jumpstart metabolism.
🔹 Even astronauts in space lose muscle rapidly due to zero gravity.
If this compound proves safe in humans, it could offer a lifeline to these populations—keeping muscles strong, metabolism humming, and aging at bay.
The Catch: Not Ready for Prime Time (Yet)
Before you toss your gym gear into storage, here's the reality check.
This compound is still in the animal testing phase. Human trials haven’t begun yet. We don’t know:
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Long-term side effects
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Optimal dose
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How it behaves in humans
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If it’s safe for everyone
The FDA approval process for a drug like this can take 5–10 years. So no, it’s not “exercise in a pill” just yet.
Why Real Exercise Still Reigns Supreme
Even if SLU-PP-332 hits the market, nothing can fully replicate the benefits of real movement:
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Mental health: Exercise boosts dopamine and reduces anxiety.
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Joint health: Moving your body protects bones and joints.
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Social and emotional connection: Gym buddies, dance classes, or walks with friends.
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Brain health: Regular movement improves memory and reduces dementia risk.
So yeah, you’ll still want to move your body. But this compound could be a powerful backup plan—especially on days when you just can’t get off the couch (or out of bed).
What the Future Looks Like
The implications of this research are nothing short of revolutionary:
Supplements that support aging adults
Therapies for patients with chronic illness
Muscle maintenance for astronauts in space
A “longevity stack” alongside intermittent fasting or NAD+ boosters
Some scientists predict that, within a decade, we could see exercise mimetics prescribed just like statins or blood pressure meds.
But with great power comes great responsibility. We’ll need tight regulations, long-term safety data, and a deep understanding of how this compound interacts with real human biology.
Final Thoughts: Is This the End of the Gym?
Not quite—but it’s definitely a glimpse into a future where aging doesn’t mean decline.
Science is edging closer to treating aging like a disease—and SLU-PP-332 might be part of that medical revolution.
So stay active, stay curious, and stay tuned. Because your future “workout” might one day come in a capsule.
SOURCES
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Science Journal: A small-molecule exercise mimetic that improves skeletal muscle function and whole-body metabolism
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Nature News: Scientists explore exercise-mimicking molecules
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Washington University School of Medicine: Press release
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NIH/NIA: Aging and muscle loss research