Age-related frailty.

As we grow older, many of us experience the challenges of frailty — a gradual decline in strength, mobility, and resilience that can make everyday activities harder. Frailty increases vulnerability to falls, hospitalisation, and loss of independence, and it is becoming one of the most pressing issues in aging populations worldwide. Despite its impact, there are currently no approved medical treatments to reverse frailty. Care today focuses on lifestyle measures such as exercise and nutrition, which can help but may not fully address the biological drivers of decline.

Frailty is a condition many older adults experience as the body gradually loses strength, resilience, and the ability to recover from stressors such as illness or injury.

It often shows up through:

• Loss of muscle mass and strength

• Reduced mobility and balance

• Fatigue and low energy

• Greater vulnerability to falls, infections, and hospitalisation

Frailty can significantly reduce quality of life and independence. Today, most approaches focus on exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle support. No approved medical treatments currently exist to prevent frailty.

Research shows that frailty is closely linked to long-term, low-grade inflammation — often called “inflammaging.” Over time, inflammation contributes to:

• Declines in mobility and gait

• Muscle and bone loss (sarcopenia, osteopenia)

• Increased risk of infections and chronic diseases

This type of inflammation builds gradually as we age, alongside a reduced ability of stem cells to repair damaged tissue. Together, these processes make the body less resilient and more vulnerable to decline.

Frailty often overlaps with other age-related problems such as cardiovascular disease, muscle loss (sarcopenia), and bone weakness (osteoporosis). Research of mesenchymal stem cells has shown:

• Cardiovascular disease: Clinical studies suggest mesenchymal stem cells can reduce inflammation and improve outcomes in certain heart conditions.^14-16

• Osteoporosis: In pre-clinical studies, mesenchymal stem cells from younger donors improved bone strength and even extended lifespan.¹⁹

These findings support the idea that mesenchymal stem cells may influence core processes of aging that contribute to frailty.

Beyond frailty itself, mesenchymal stem cells are also being studied worldwide for other age-related diseases, including:

• Alzheimer’s disease²⁰

• Diabetes²¹

• Chronic lung disease²²

• Osteoarthritis²³

• Cardiovascular disease^15-16

Mesenchymal stem cells interact closely with the immune system. When exposed to inflammation, they release signals that reduce harmful immune activity (like TNF-α and IL-6) and increase protective, regulatory responses. This helps create a more balanced environment in the body — something that could be especially valuable in counteracting inflammation.

Mesenchymal stem cells are being investigated for their potential to:

• Reduce chronic low-grade inflammation^10-13

• Support muscle and bone health^17-19

• Inducing new blood vessels in damaged tissues^10-11

• Improve resilience against age-related decline

These properties make mesenchymal stem cells an important focus of research into frailty and healthy aging.

Several clinical trials in the US have studied intravenous mesenchymal stem cells therapy for ageing frailty:

• Phase I pilot study (15 patients): Mesenchymal stem cell therapy was well tolerated in older participants. Improvements were seen in walking distance (6-minute walk test), lung function, and quality of life (SF-36) scores, along with a significant reduction in TNF-α, a key marker associated with chronic inflammation and immunity.²⁴

• Phase II trial (30 patients): This randomized, placebo-controlled study found that participants who received an intravenous dose of 100 million mesenchymal stem cells showed significant improvements in walking tests and physical performance. The treated group also had decreased levels of inflammatory markers compared to placebo.²⁵

• Phase IIb trial (148 patients): Preliminary results suggest mesenchymal stem cell therapy continued to demonstrate a strong safety profile and was associated with improved physical performance in a larger population.

Taken together, these findings indicate mesenchymal stem cells may play a role in improving strength, mobility, and resilience in older adults, while also reducing harmful inflammation. Further research is underway to confirm and expand on these results.

At Cellcolabs Clinical, one of our focus areas is the study of frailty. Our trials investigate whether mesenchymal stem cells may improve physical performance, reduce inflammation, and help older adults maintain independence for longer.

Are MSCs an approved treatment for frailty?
No. Mesenchymal stem cells are still in the research phase. Current trials are investigating whether they can help older adults improve physical function and resilience.

How does inflammation play a role in frailty?
Frailty is linked to chronic, low-grade inflammation — “inflammaging.” Mesenchymal stem cells are being studied for their ability to reduce harmful inflammation and support healthier aging.

Are mesenchymal stem cells safe?
Safety has been a key area of study. A 2021 meta-analysis of 62 randomized clinical trials concluded that mesenchymal stem cell therapy was safe compared with placebo, with no treatment-related serious adverse events reported.²⁶

How are mesenchymal stem cells different from lifestyle measures like exercise or nutrition?
Exercise and nutrition remain essential for healthy ageing. Mesenchymal stem cells are being studied as a possible complementary approach, targeting biological processes that lifestyle changes alone cannot fully address.