Researchers have found how an unexpectedly high number of mutations in the stem cells of muscles impair cell regeneration.
As we grow older, our muscular function declines. So, according to the researchers, this discovery may result in new medication to build stronger muscles even when in old age.
High number of mutations
For the study, published in the journal Nature Communications , researchers investigated the number of mutations that accumulate in the muscle’s stem cells . “What is most surprising is the high number of mutations. We have seen how a healthy 70-year-old has accumulated over 1,000 mutations in each stem cell in the muscle, and that these mutations are not random but there are certain regions that are better protected,” said Maria Eriksson, professor, Karolinska Institutet.
