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Scientists reverse muscle aging in mice and discover a surprising catch
General • February 23, 2026
A UCLA study in mice
reveals that aging
muscle stem cells
accumulate a
protein that slows
repair but
boosts survival. This protein, NDRG1, acts like a brake, preventing cells from activating quickly after injury. When researchers blocked it in older mice, muscle healing sped up dramatically — but stem cells became less resilient over time. The work suggests aging may reflect a survival trade-off rather than straightforward decline.
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