BACKGROUND:Peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1α(PGC-1α)is closely related to aging and plays an important regulatory role in exercise anti-aging.However,there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on the role of PGC-1α in exercise anti-aging from the perspective of different tissues and organs. OBJECTIVE:To provide a detailed overview of the role of PGC-1α in exercise anti-aging and discuss its regulation from the perspective of different tissues and organs. METHODS:A literature search was conducted from May 1,2023 to July 1,2023.The search covered self-built databases up to July 2023,as well as databases such as Web of Science,PubMed,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),WanFang,and VIP.The Chinese search terms included"PGC-1α,peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1α,PPARGC1A,aging,exercise,older adults".The English search terms were"PGC-1α,aging,exercise,exercise training,older adults".Boolean logical operators were used to connect the search terms,and corresponding search strategies were developed.Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,83 articles were included in the review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)PGC-1α is an important transcriptional coactivator that plays a key regulatory role in maintaining mitochondrial function,regulating energy metabolism,and adapting to different metabolic demands.(2)PGC-1α has a significant regulatory role in mitochondrial aging and various functions in multiple cell types,and is associated with inflammatory pathways,redox control,protein modifications,and epigenetic changes.(3)The expression level of PGC-1α can be increased by exercise training,and it exerts positive effects through regulating mitochondrial biogenesis,energy metabolism,and anti-oxidative stress pathways.It plays an important role in exercise-induced improvement of adipose tissue aging,cardiovascular aging,neurosystem aging,renal aging,skeletal muscle aging,and liver aging.(4)The expert group recommends future research directions including exploring the regulatory effects of different types,intensities,and durations of exercise on PGC-1α expression,studying the regulatory mechanisms of protein modifications and epigenetic changes in PGC-1α, and strengthening the research on the mechanisms of PGC-1α in different aging-related diseases.