14 DAY TRIAL // Until not long ago, the fountain of youth was just a myth, the stuff fairytales were made of and that us mortals could only dream of. In recent years, the possibility of scientists discovering the secret to eternal youth and health has augmented, they say, even if they are yet to come up with the magic pill. On this note, hopes are high that, one day, a drug that will make muscles young again will be available, as McKnight’s says.
US and Danish researchers analyzed two groups of volunteers, whose muscles (in the thigh) were first weakened by means of a cast. Both groups were asked to work out when the cast was removed, but the most progress in regenerating the muscle was seen in the younger men, because their body was able to create more of the protein needed for this to happen. Based on the findings, researchers are now hopeful that, one day, they will be able to come up with a pill that will do the regeneration part when our body is no longer able to.
“Researchers compared muscle samples from two groups of adult males-one group averaging 22 years of age, while the other group averaged 71 years of age. The subjects were then placed in a leg cast for two weeks to simulate muscle atrophy. After the casts were removed, more muscle samples were taken at three days, then again at four weeks. Researchers found that adult stem cells in the younger samples were far more numerous than those in the older samples. What's more, when the two groups were subjected to a recuperative exercise regime, the older muscles actually showed signs of scaring and inflammation if the routine was too rigorous.” McKnight’s says of the study.
As one can easily imagine, making the muscles young again also means bringing the entire body to its former glory, which is nothing short of a recipe for eternal youth. Of course, from where we are today to that point there is still a long way to go, and researchers are adamant that such a discovery will not happen overnight. Still, making this first step and establishing the connection between the protein and muscle regeneration is extremely important, they say.
“Our study shows that the ability of old human muscle to be maintained and repaired by muscle stem cells can be restored to youthful vigor give[n] the right mix of biochemical signals.” one researcher says of the recent study.