Hormone-Boosting Drug May Help Treat Frailty
TUESDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- A drug designed to increase the body's production of growth hormone may help treat frailty in older adults, a new study shows.
Older adults have greatly reduced production of growth hormone, which regulates metabolism and helps build muscle mass. Age-related decreases in strength and physical agility can led to disability and loss of independence.
"By boosting the production of growth hormones, we may be able to slow this process and help people lead active lives longer," study first author Dr. Heidi K. White, an associate professor of medicine at Duke University Medical Center, said in a Duke news release.
The study included 395 women and men, aged 65 to 84, with mild physical function limitations. They were randomly selected to take either a placebo or one of four doses of the investigational drug capromorelin. All four doses of the drug increased growth hormone production, and the findings were sustained over one year of treatment.
The researchers also found that participants who took the drug showed a significant increase in lean body mass (1.4 kilograms vs. 0.3 kg for placebo) and improvements in two physical function tests -- tandem walking (heel to toe) and stair climbing.
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