An international study led by the Institut de Neurociències at the UAB (INc-UAB) has shown that increasing levels of the Klotho protein in mice extends lifespan and improves both physical and cognitive health when aging.

As we grow older, it is natural to lose muscle and bone mass, leading to greater frailty and a higher risk of falls and serious injuries. Cognitively, neurons progressively degenerate and lose connections, while diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s become more prevalent. In a society where the population is steadily aging, reducing these effects is one of the main challenges for research.

Now, in an article published in Molecular Therapy, an international research team led by Professor Miguel Chillón, ICREA researcher at the INc-UAB, has shown that increasing levels of the secreted form of the Klotho protein (s-KL) improves aging in mice.