UCLA Study Reveals Protein's Role in Aging Muscle Stem Cells

On February 24, 2026, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) published a study revealing the role of the protein NDRG1 in aging muscle stem cells. The study found that NDRG1 accumulates in these cells as they age, which slows down tissue repair processes but simultaneously enhances the survival of the cells. This discovery highlights a trade-off in muscle regeneration with age, where the slowing of repair is balanced by increased cell survival. The research involved comparing muscle stem cells and blocking NDRG1 activity to understand its effects. The study was conducted by a team including Dr. Thomas Rando, Jengmin Kang, and Daniel Benjamin, with support from institutions such as the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, the National Institutes of Health, and several foundations. The findings contribute to a better understanding of muscle aging and potential therapeutic targets for age-related muscle degeneration.