Star Tribune

By Connie Nelson
When asked if he's searching for the fountain of youth, Nathan LeBrasseur doesn't say no. At least not right away.

"For some people, that explanation might make sense," he offers after a pause.

LeBrasseur, a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, collaborates with multiple teams at his lab at Mayo Clinic in Rochester to research aging from a cellular level. They're doing everything from testing grip strength in mice and studying age-damaged "zombie cells" to using biomarkers to try to determine the biological (vs. chronological) age of older adults.

Reach: The Star Tribune Sunday circulation is 518,745 copies and weekday circulation is 300,277. The Star Tribune is the state’s largest newspaper and ranks 16th nationally in circulation.

Context: Nathan LeBrasseur, M.S., Ph.D., studies the genes and signaling pathways influencing skeletal muscle growth and metabolism, and how their manipulation — by genetic alteration, diet, drugs or exercise — affects these physiological processes. You can listen to Dr. LeBrasseur talk about slowing the aging process in this Mayo Clinic Radio Health Minute, we hear from Dr. Nathan LeBrasseur about slowing the aging process.  He says it's not about increasing lifespan, but healthspan.

Contacts: Kelley Luckstein, Bob Nellis

Tags: aging, foundation of youth, Mayo Clinic, Nathan LeBrasseur, Star Tribune, Uncategorized, zombie cells