Stem cell injections can significantly improve the physical condition of elderly people with age-related frailty, according to researchers who published the results of a clinical trial in Cell Stem Cell.

The study involved 148 participants aged 70 to 85 who were experiencing frailty—a condition characterized by decreased muscle strength and endurance, as well as an increased risk of falls and hospitalization. Participants were treated with laromestrocel, a therapy based on bone marrow stem cells from young donors.

Nine months after treatment, about one-third of the patients showed significant improvement and no longer met the criteria for frailty. In addition, those who received the highest dose were able to walk an average of 63 meters farther in the six-minute walk test compared to the placebo group.

According to the researchers, the therapy aims to replenish the body’s supply of stem cells, which declines with age. This may help reduce chronic inflammation, improve vascular function, and stimulate tissue repair processes.

The scientists note that such approaches could become a promising way to combat age-related physical decline, although larger-scale studies are needed to confirm their effectiveness.