Nathan K. LeBrasseur, M.S., Ph.D., co-chair of research in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, discusses research at the Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging with Carmen M. Terzic, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, at the 2015 Fourth Annual Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation.

Dr. LeBrasseur believes there are fundamental underpinnings to diseases such as sarcopenia — the age-related loss of muscle — and other conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or osteoporosis. Mayo researchers are gaining an understanding of cellular senescence, a process in which cells stop dividing and become toxic to the tissues they are living in because of the factors they secrete. This process may have implications for muscle and regeneration.

In related work, Dr. LeBrasseur is involved in a multicenter clinical trial looking at ways to improve muscle health and enhance physical function in late life.