Muscle loss in old age
Permanent disconnection between nerves and muscles may be the reason behind progressive loss of muscle mass and function in elderly people, Western Australia research recently found. The findings reportedly “open up opportunities for new interventions to slow down muscle loss and improve health and quality of life”.
Permanent disconnection between nerves and muscles may be the reason behind progressive loss of muscle mass and function in elderly people, Western Australia research recently found.
The findings reportedly “open up opportunities for new interventions to slow down muscle loss and improve health and quality of life”.
According to Associate Professor Tea Shavlakadze and Professor Miranda Grounds from the University of Western Australia (UWA), “loss of muscle mass” in older age is not a disease, but part of life”.
Compromised muscle function and loss of muscle mass in older age was known as sarcopenia, an increasing health problem with an expanding aged population.
According to the researchers, “everyone aged over 60 years is affected by this progressive ageing condition to some degree”.
The study showed mice aged 29 months (roughly equivalent to 80-year-old humans) displayed an alarming absence of healthy connections between nerves and muscles at the contact points for nerve stimulation on muscles.
A loss of connections at these contact points was reportedly linked to a lack of cross-talk between nerves and muscles. Muscle activity decreased, leading to loss of function.
Further studies by Professors Shavlakadze and Grounds are underway to understand why nerves let go of muscles in older age.
The UWA researchers aim to develop new therapeutic approaches to combat sarcopenia and maintain a high quality of life with ageing.
