How nuclei inside muscle cells change with age
Myonuclear dynamics during skeletal muscle aging
Researchers are looking at how changes in the nuclei inside muscle fibers lead to muscle loss in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322024 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on sarcopenia — age-related loss of muscle — by studying the nuclei that sit inside muscle fibers. The team uses a special mouse model that can change the number of nuclei in a muscle fiber and tracks specific nuclear populations over time. They measure muscle fiber size, gene activity, and signs of accelerated aging when nuclear numbers are altered. The goal is to learn whether preserving or restoring these nuclei could help maintain muscle size during aging.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults with signs of muscle weakness or clinically defined sarcopenia would be the population most likely to benefit from future human studies based on these findings.
Not a fit: Young healthy people or patients with conditions unrelated to skeletal muscle wasting are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to preserve or restore muscle size and strength in older adults with sarcopenia.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies indicate myonuclear number influences muscle fiber size, but converting those findings into human treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Millay, Douglas Paul — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Millay, Douglas Paul
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.