In a recent study, researchers have developed a new drug that may help increase muscle size, strength, and metabolic functions.
The new drug may help delay muscle aging and improve health.
The study was done by researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
It is known that strong muscles are important for long and healthy life. But older people often lose muscle mass due to aging and diseases.
This is because their bodies increasingly lose the ability to repair and rebuild degenerating skeletal muscles.
Previous research has shown that muscle mass, strength, and function continually may start to decline after age 35.
Lower muscle functions and muscle mass can make it hard to live fully active and independent.
In the current study, the team found that a protein in muscle stem cells may be responsible for age-related dysfunction.
They created a small molecule drug to limit the effects of this protein.
Experiments showed that the drug could reset muscle stem cells to a more youthful state and make them more effective to repair muscle tissues.
After just 7 days of the treatment, muscle stem cells became more functional and more active in repairing the injured muscle.
In addition, the muscle fiber size doubled, and muscle strength increased by 70%.
The team tested this new drug on mice in the study and plan to test the drug effect on humans in the near future.
They hope the new finding could benefit older people. The new drug may help the elderly to become fitter, faster and stronger, and help them to live more active and independent lives as they age.
One author of the study is Stanley Watowich, Associate professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology.
The study is published in Biochemical Pharmacology.
Copyright © 2019 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
