As people age, the blood vessels that supply muscles with the amino acids they need to grow become less responsive and less able to do their jobs, according to researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. In a small study involving 12 healthy older adults, researchers found that a drug used in hospitals to fight high blood pressure was effective in dilating the blood vessels, increasing the flow of nutrients to the muscle.

“We were able to make our 70-year-olds look like 30-year-olds, at least in terms of muscle growth,” said lead author Kyle Timmerman. This results complement earlier UTMB research, which found that elevated levels of insulin also dilate the blood vessels and promote better muscle growth among the elderly (McKnight’s, 9/28/09).