It is known that strong muscles are important for a 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.
A recent study from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has developed a new drug to solve the problem.
The drug could help increase muscle size, strength, and metabolic functions.
The study is published in Biochemical Pharmacology. One author is Stanley Watowich, Associate professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology.
Previous studies have found 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 this study, the team showed 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.
Their 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 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 researchers tested this new drug on mice and plan to test the drug effect on humans in the near future.
They hope the new drug could benefit older people. It may help the elderly to become fitter, faster and stronger, and help them to live more active and independent lives as they age.
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