Targeting The Glycocalyx May Offer A New Approach To Reduce Frailty In Older Adults

A caller investigation insubstantial was published in Volume 17, Issue 9 of Aging-US on August 30, 2025, titled, "Glycocalyx-targeted therapy prevents age-related musculus nonaccomplishment and declines successful maximal workout capacity."

In this study, led by Daniel R. Machin from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and the University of Utah, researchers recovered that protecting a vulnerable furniture lining humor vessels, known arsenic nan glycocalyx, tin forestall musculus deterioration and thief support beingness capacity during aging. They besides discovered that a supplement containing high-molecular-weight hyaluronan (HMW-HA), a cardinal constituent of nan glycocalyx, enabled older mice to sphere musculus wide and workout capacity. These findings propose that targeting nan glycocalyx whitethorn connection a caller attack to trim frailty and support mobility successful older adults.

As this furniture degrades pinch age, it contributes to cardiovascular and muscular diminution by impairing humor travel and vascular health. The study examined really preserving nan glycocalyx utilizing a therapy called Endocalyx™ affects beingness usability successful aging mice.

Researchers first studied genetically modified mice lacking Has2, nan enzyme responsible for producing HMW-HA. These mice had a thinner glycocalyx, reduced workout performance, and little mitochondrial usability successful their muscles, moreover though musculus size remained normal. This indicated that glycocalyx harm unsocial tin straight impair beingness performance.

The squad past gave older mice a fare containing Endocalyx™ for 10 weeks. Compared to untreated controls, these mice maintained musculus wide and performed amended connected treadmill tests. Notably, nan treated mice did not show nan emblematic age-related diminution successful musculus spot and endurance. While nan supplement did not afloat reconstruct youthful performance, it importantly slowed beingness deterioration, suggesting a protective benefit. In contrast, untreated older mice mislaid some assemblage wide and musculus measurement during nan aforesaid period.

"Taken together, these findings supply nonstop grounds of a domiciled for HMW-HA successful nan modulation of workout capacity."

This investigation builds connected anterior grounds that nan glycocalyx is basal for patient humor alloy function. Since musculus wellness depends connected due humor travel and oxygen delivery, restoring nan glycocalyx whitethorn thief support spot and mobility pinch age. While much investigation is needed to corroborate these results successful humans, nan findings constituent to a imaginable therapeutic attack to beforehand healthier aging.