Why do we lose strength in old age?
WA scientists believe they are closer to explaining why people over 60 years of age progressively lose muscle mass and strength as they age, leaving them prone to falls and a loss of independence. Known as sarcopenia, the condition has in recent years attracted much scientific attention.
WA scientists believe they are closer to explaining why people over 60 years of age progressively lose muscle mass and strength as they age, leaving them prone to falls and a loss of independence.
Known as sarcopenia, the condition has in recent years attracted much scientific attention given the implications for our ageing population. The West Australian reports its exact cause, however, has remained a mystery.
University of WA researchers published in the medical and science journal PLoS One their new findings that a permanent disconnection between the nerves and the muscles might be the culprit. Studies in mice found the nerves had “let go” of the muscles as the mice aged.
Miranda Grounds and colleague Thea Shavlakadze are now working to identify which aspect of the neuromuscular system is responsible for the loss of connections between the nerves and the muscles (denervation) in order to target future interventions to prevent or delay the onset of sarcopenia.
“We need to find out what it is in the muscles that is changing to result in denervation,” Professor Grounds said.
“Once we know this we can get creative about better monitoring of the progression of sarcopenia and ideally design specific targeted interventions to maintain muscle function into old age.”
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