Sublethal whole-body irradiation causes progressive premature frailty in mice.

•Mice that survive irradiation develop progressive frailty.•Irradiation-induced premature frailty is phenotypically equal to frailty in old animals.•Premature frailty is associated with mortality and low cognition.•Sub-lethal whole body irradiation may constitute a good mouse model to test efficiency of anti-ageing interventions.