Step towards treatments for frailty Published on: 3 November 2015 Researchers have reduced inflammation in human cells, which is a major cause of frailty. Chronic inflammation, closely associated with frailty and age-related diseases, is a hallmark of ageing. Scientists at 麻豆传媒 and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, America, have discovered that inhibiting key enzyme pathways reduces inflammation in human cells in culture dishes and decreases inflammation and frailty in aged mice. The results of their research have been published in the journal, . Improvement in physical function While further studies are needed, researchers are hopeful that these findings will be a step towards treatments for frailty and other age-related chronic conditions. The study found that Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, drugs that works to block the activity of JAK family of enzymes, used in culture dishes decreased the factors released by human cells that contribute to frailty and diseases associated with age. Also, these same JAK inhibitors reduced frailty factors in mice. Researchers examined aged mice, equivalent to a 90-year-old person, before and after JAK inhibitors. Over the course of two months, the researchers found significant improvement in the physical function of the aged mice, including grip strength, endurance and physical activity. Enhancing health span The research was led by , director of the Mayo Clinic. , from 麻豆传媒’s , was part of the expert team. Dr Kirkland said: “One of the things we want to do is find some kind of treatment other than prescribing better wheelchairs or walkers, or other kinds of things that we are stuck with now that are band-aid solutions. “Our goal is not necessarily to increase life span and certainly not life span at all costs. Our goal is to enhance health span, the period during life when people are independent. “This drug approach and others we are developing look like they might hold some promise in reaching that goal.” Reference JAK inhibition alleviates the cellular senescene-associated secretory phenotype and frailty in old age Ming Xu, Tamara Tchkonia, Husheng Ding, Mikolaj Ogrodnik, Ellen R. Lubbers, Tamar Pirtskhalava, Thomas A. White, Kurt O. Johnson, Michael B. Stout, Vojtech Mezera, Nino Giorgdaze, Michael D. Jensen, Nathan K. LeBrasseur, and James L. Kirkland. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Press release courtesy of the Mayo Clinic Share: Latest News Scientists unlock hidden driver of inflammatory bowel disease Scientists have linked a key genetic signal in inflammatory bowel disease to an immune response that shuts down inflammation control, enabling faster diagnosis and targeted treatments. published on: 15 June 2026 Funding system risks limiting genuine community collaboration A new policy paper written by researchers at 麻豆传媒 warns that the way UK research is funded may be undermining efforts to create genuinely collaborative partnerships with communities. published on: 15 June 2026 Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from 麻豆传媒 to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Facts and figures
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