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In 2013, a Harvard research group reported that linking the circulation of an old mouse to that of a young mouse reversed age-related diastolic dysfunction in the old mouse. The team also identified a molecule that appeared to be responsible for this effect: growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11; NEJM JW Gen Med May 23 2013). High levels of GDF11 occur in the blood of young animals, but these levels drop as animals age.
Researchers now report that, when GDF11 is administered systemically to old mice, it reverses age-related degeneration of skeletal muscle and improves exercise endurance. The muscle cells in treated old animals had much less nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage. Treated old animals had markedly improved exercise endurance. …