Ketone ester to improve function in frail older adults
Official title: TAKEOFF: Targeting Aging with Ketone Ester in Older adults for Function in Frailty
Funded at Buck Institute for Research on Aging · NIH-11172428 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Seeing if a ketone supplement can boost energy and physical function in older adults living with frailty.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Buck Institute for Research on Aging NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Novato, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,039,697 |
| NIH project number | 4RF1AG081226-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11172428 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults who meet clinical criteria for frailty and can attend visits at participating study centers.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not frail, substantially younger, or who have medical conditions that make ketone supplements unsafe are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
You would take a ketone ester supplement that raises levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate, a natural molecule linked to fasting and energy use. Researchers at multiple sites will enroll older adults with frailty and measure changes in physical performance, energy, inflammation, immune markers, and other aging-related biomarkers. The team combines experts in geriatrics, ketone biology, and immunology to connect biological effects to everyday function. This is a proof-of-concept effort to find out whether a pill-like ketone approach could help reverse aspects of frailty.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve strength, energy, and day-to-day independence for people living with frailty.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier human studies show ketone esters change metabolism and inflammation, but using them specifically to treat frailty is a novel and early-stage application.
Where this research is happening
-
Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Novato, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Newman, John C — Buck Institute for Research on Aging
- Study coordinator: Newman, John C
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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.