- Scientists at the University of Washington have developed a drug called SLU-PP-332.
- This could help prevent age-related diseases such as dementia and heart failure
- READ MORE: Weekend warriors lose as much weight as regular exercisers
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A new pill could offer the same benefits as exercise, including muscle growth and performance, a study suggests.
The drug can mimic the physical pulse of a workout and potentially treat conditions such as obesity and muscle atrophy.
It could also prevent age-related diseases such as dementia, heart failure and decline in kidney function.
After decades of work, scientists at the University of Washington have developed a compound called SLU-PP-332 that activates specialized proteins, known as estrogen-related receptors (ERRs), that are triggered by exercise.
The pill can mimic the physical pulse of a workout and potentially treat conditions such as obesity and muscle atrophy.
Professor Bahaa Elgendy, professor of anesthesiology at the University of Washington and principal investigator of the project, said: “Everyone knows that exercise is extremely beneficial for the body and mind, but not everyone can not exercise. Taking exercise in pill form could be beneficial to mimic or enhance the effects in aging people, people with certain illnesses, or facing muscle loss from other medications.
“This could lead to the development of treatments for some of the most challenging diseases we face today, such as neurodegenerative diseases and heart failure.”
“I’m not advocating replacing exercise or anything, but a lot of people like me are lazy and don’t like to exercise or are busy all the time, so they might benefit from these medications.”
“It has always been heartbreaking for me to see people, especially children, who cannot move and who suffer from muscular dystrophy and other horrible illnesses. I’m not 100 percent sure it can cure these diseases, but it could at least help some people improve their quality of life.”
Researchers tested the pills on mice and found that they increased a type of fatigue-resistant muscle fiber while improving the animals’ endurance when running on a rodent treadmill.
The pills also appear to counteract the damaging processes that occur in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Exercise improves metabolism and muscle cell growth and improves muscle performance.
A drug that mimics these effects could counteract the muscle atrophy and weakness that can occur in people who are aging or have cancer.
Certain genetic conditions can also prevent people from engaging in physical activity.
The research will be presented at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society.