As people get older, they often notice that they can’t move as easily or lift as much as they used to. It’s common to think this is just a normal part of aging — that our muscles simply get weaker with time.
But a new study from Ohio University gives us a different way of thinking about this problem. It suggests that the real issue may not be the muscles themselves, but how well the brain and nerves are talking to those muscles.
This research was led by Brian Clark, a scientist who wanted to understand what truly causes muscle weakness in older adults. His team worked with 66 people in their 70s. These participants were asked to use their leg muscles — specifically, the ones that straighten the knee — to push against resistance as hard as they could.
Once the researchers measured how much force each person could produce on their own, they added a twist: they used small electrical pulses to directly stimulate the muscles. These electrical signals basically acted like a message from the brain telling the muscles to work.
What they found was surprising. Many of the people, especially the ones who were the weakest at first, were able to produce more force after the electrical stimulation. In fact, the weakest participants improved their strength by about 14%. This was twice as much as the improvement seen in people who were already stronger.
So what does this mean? It shows that the muscles themselves still had the ability to work harder — they just weren’t getting a strong enough signal from the brain and nerves. In other words, the muscles weren’t the problem. The issue was in the nervous system: the way the brain sends messages to the muscles telling them to move.
This discovery is important because it changes the way we might try to help older adults stay strong. Most advice around aging focuses on staying physically active — lifting weights, walking, or doing gentle exercise. That advice is still very helpful. But now, scientists are realizing that we may also need to pay more attention to keeping the brain and nervous system healthy and active.
There are exercises that don’t just work the muscles, but also train the brain and nerves. For example, balance exercises, dancing, or sports that require coordination may help keep these communication pathways strong. These types of activities challenge both the body and the brain.
The researchers also believe their work could lead to new treatments in the future. If we can find safe ways to boost the nerve signals to muscles — either through special exercises or possibly even medical devices — we might help older people stay stronger and more independent for longer.
This study was published in JAMA Network Open, a respected medical journal. It’s a reminder that staying strong as we age might not just be about working our muscles — it might also be about keeping our brain and nerves working well, too.
So next time you think about aging and getting weaker, remember: your muscles might still be ready to work. They just need a better signal from your brain to get going.
If you care about muscle, please read studies about factors that can cause muscle weakness in older people, and scientists find a way to reverse high blood sugar and muscle loss.
For more health information, please see recent studies about an easy, cheap way to maintain muscles, and results showing these vegetables essential for your muscle strength.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
