The global landscape of aging and exercise research (1922-2024): A multi-dataset bibliometric mapping and thematic...

Exercise and physical activity are essential for promoting healthy aging by improving physical function, preventing cognitive decline, and reducing chronic disease risk. Despite increasing research output, a comprehensive bibliometric synthesis of aging and exercise research (AER), particularly its intellectual structure and emerging trends, remains limited. This study aimed to map the evolution and thematic structure of AER.

Bibliographic data were retrieved from the Scopus database (as of 13 December 2024). Three datasets (N1 = 11,751; N2 = 4722; N3 = 3880) covering different periods and core sources were analyzed. Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace were used to assess publication trends, author productivity, collaboration networks, thematic evolution, keyword co-occurrence, and co-citation patterns.

AER publications increased substantially after 1980, with peak citation impact in 1991 (412.67 citations/article). Publication output reached 1086 articles in 2024, while recent citation averages declined due to recency effects. The Journal of Aging and Physical Activity and Journals of Gerontology were identified as core sources. The United States led in productivity and collaboration, and McAuley E. was the most prolific author. Author productivity followed Lotka's law, with 71.9% of authors contributing a single article. Key themes included physical activity, aging, and exercise, with emerging topics such as sarcopenia, telerehabilitation, and multicomponent exercise.

This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of AER, identifying key contributors, core sources, and emerging trends, and offers insights to guide future interdisciplinary research and promote healthy aging.