Key points from article :
Aerobic activities can help elderly recover as quickly, efficiently as younger selves.
Scientists rounded up young and old mice, gave access to running wheel for 3 weeks.
They analyzed how the mice muscle stem cells (MuSCs) and muscle tissue responded.
After 3 weeks, they injured certain muscles, analyzed how they rebuild tissues.
MuSCs were transplanted from old mice into other injured mice.
Old donor MuSCs formed smaller and fewer fibers in the injured mice.
Old MuSCs from exercising mice performed like young muscle stem cells.
Exercise had a “rejuvenating” effect on old cells, instead of producing more MuSCs.
Exercise’s effects on MSC, tissue repair come down to a tiny protein called cyclin D1.
Cyclin D1, may be key to therapeutics and anti-ageing drugs.
Human equivalent of mice running wheel regime would likely be regular, aerobic exercise.
Research from Stanford University. Published in Nature Metabolism.
