Many people say that exercise is the best medicine, but for older adults, staying active can become very difficult.
As people age, they often face health challenges that make regular movement harder—both physically and mentally.
A recent study from UT Health San Antonio looked at whether adding branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) to an exercise program could help older adults feel better and move more easily. The results were surprising and hopeful.
The study was small but carefully designed. It included 20 older adults with obesity, all around 70 years old. Half of the participants were given a drink with BCAAs, while the other half received a placebo. Both groups followed the same eight-week exercise plan, which included light aerobic activity and strength training.
BCAAs are nutrients found in protein-rich foods and include leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These special amino acids are known for helping build muscle, but researchers are learning they might also affect the brain and mood.
The goal was to see whether BCAAs could reduce fatigue and improve mood and physical strength. Fatigue is not just about feeling tired.
It’s a complex issue that can come from weak muscles or from the brain itself. Some people feel exhausted even if their bodies are capable of doing things. This kind of “mental fatigue” is harder to measure, but it can affect everything from motivation to emotional well-being.
Dr. Jason O’Connor, one of the study’s authors, explained that inflammation in the body changes how amino acids are used by the brain. These changes may lead to central fatigue, the type that makes people feel drained even before doing any activity.
He believes that by adding BCAAs through supplements, we might be able to correct this imbalance and help people feel more energetic and motivated.
After eight weeks, the difference between the two groups was clear. The group that took the placebo had almost no improvement in strength or endurance. In fact, their fatigue went up by 5%, and symptoms of depression increased.
On the other hand, the BCAA group felt much better. They experienced a 45% drop in fatigue, a 29% reduction in depression symptoms, and a modest boost in strength and endurance.
The researchers had expected exercise alone to help, but it didn’t seem to work well for the placebo group. Dr. O’Connor said this might explain why some older adults stop exercising—they don’t feel better, so they lose motivation to continue.
But when BCAAs were added, the positive effects were noticeable. This combination of nutrients and movement may help break the cycle of fatigue and low mood.
There is hope that these findings can be used to help more people. Dr. O’Connor wants to expand the study to include veterans, who often face even more health challenges as they age. His team is also studying how BCAA supplements affect older mice, and the early results look promising.
In the future, the researchers plan to look more closely at how these changes relate to inflammation and the immune system. They hope to find out whether BCAAs are reducing inflammation, improving brain health, and supporting better aging.
While more research is needed, this small study gives a big message: for older adults struggling with energy and motivation, a simple supplement may make exercise more rewarding and life feel a little brighter.
If you care about health, please read studies that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation, and vitamin K could lower your heart disease risk by a third.
For more health information, please see recent studies about common exercises that could protect against cognitive decline, and results showing this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
The study is published in Diabetics.
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