Researchers have shown that rejuvenating muscle stem cells from old mice leads to larger muscle growth and improved recovery after injury. The approach could one day help older people regain strength and mobility. Experiments demonstrated clear benefits in leg function and tissue repair.
Scientists at Duke University extracted muscle stem cells from aged mice, supplemented them with specific lipids in the lab, and then injected the treated cells back into injured muscles of other old mice. The treated cells produced new muscle fibres 45 per cent larger than those from untreated cells, and the mice showed better performance on treadmill and mobility tests within days.