Frailty is a health state related to the aging process in which multiple body systems
gradually lose their built-in reserves. It is a medical condition of reduced function in
older adults which is associated with increased risks of adverse outcomes such as falls,
disability, admission to hospital, or need for long-term care. Currently, there is no
specific medical treatment of frailty. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are undifferentiated
cells that self-replicated, and some may change into a particular cell type. These cells go
to areas of injury due to signals released by injured cells. Upon reaching, the target
tissue, MSCs repair injury by releasing growth factors and immune modulators to assist in the
body's repair process. This initial study will assess the practicability of using MSCs for
age-related frailty and provide information for planning a future full study of MSCs for
maximizing Veteran's functional independence.
Phase:
Phase 1/Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
VA Office of Research and Development
Collaborators:
Baylor College of Medicine Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center