Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of identifying factors for the treatment of mitochondrial and age-related diseases and disorders. Identification of the factors can comprise, e.g., biochemical, genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic analyses. The factors include proteins (e.g., cytokines) whose production or secretion into the blood is stimulated by exercise. The factors can be developed into therapeutics for the treatment of mitochondrial and age-related diseases and disorders.