New small-molecule drug may help people stay strong as they age

New research out of the University of Texas Medical Branch holds promise for helping people maintain strength and mobility as they age.

The research, published recently in Scientific Reports, a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Nature Portfolio, describes how a small-molecule drug being developed at UTMB is superior to intensive resistance/aerobic exercise at improving muscle strength and function in aged mice.

"Amazingly, the strength improvements with our drug were twice those observed with exercise alone," said Dr. Stanley Watowich, associate professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at UTMB. "Moreover, the benefits of the drug and exercise were additive, such that older animals given the drug and exercise were 60% stronger than untreated animals."

The drug also prevented the animals from getting weaker as they aged. In contrast, the animals that were continually exercised lost strength as they aged.

"We are moving toward first-in-human clinical trials with our transformative once-a-day oral drug," Watowich said. "Our ultimate goal is to prevent adults from becoming weaker and less mobile as they age, thereby allowing them to stay fully and completely engaged in their communities and activities."