A Study of Muscle Strength Maintenance in Older Adults
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This research study is being done to see whether losartan can prevent the decrease in
strength associated with aging.
Muscle loss is associated with aging and has multiple symptoms such as weakness, slowness,
and fatigue (tiredness). Older adults with muscle weakness have a higher risk of falls and
disability. In addition, the loss of independence for older adults can lead to a poorer
quality of life.
Recently, it was discovered that losartan, a medication commonly used to treat high blood
pressure, had slowed the strength decline seen in older mice. In addition, it allowed injured
mice skeletal muscle to heal faster. Therefore, we would like to see if losartan can do the
same for older adults.
Losartan is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of high
blood pressure, heart failure, and to protect the kidneys in diabetic patients. Losartan is
not FDA-approved to prevent the decrease in strength associated with aging.
In this study, participants age 70 and older will be asked to take losartan or a placebo to
see if losartan can help prevent loss of muscle strength. A placebo is a substance that looks
like the study drug but that contains no active ingredients.
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Johns Hopkins University
Collaborators:
National Institute on Aging (NIA) National Institutes of Health (NIH)