As we age, many people notice they don’t feel as strong as they used to.
Most of us assume this is just a normal part of getting older and that our muscles are simply getting weaker.
But a new study from Ohio University is changing the way we think about this problem.
The research, led by Brian Clark, looked at 66 adults in their 70s. The team wanted to understand what causes muscle weakness in older people. They focused on the leg muscles that help straighten the knee. Participants were asked to push against resistance using their leg muscles as hard as they could.
After testing their strength, the researchers used electrical stimulation on the same muscles. This small “zap” helped activate the muscles even more. If the muscle could push harder after the electrical stimulation, it showed that the muscle itself wasn’t the problem. Instead, the brain and nerves were not doing a good job of telling the muscle to work properly.
The results were surprising. People who were the weakest at the start showed the biggest gains in strength after the stimulation. Their strength increased by 14.2%, which was twice as much improvement as seen in the stronger group. This suggests that in many older adults, the main issue isn’t the muscle—it’s the brain and nervous system.
This discovery could change how we treat muscle weakness in older people. Right now, most efforts focus on building muscle through exercise. While staying active is still very important, this study shows we should also focus on keeping the brain and nerves working well.
Exercises that improve balance and coordination may help because they also train the brain and nerves to work better with the muscles. In the future, we might see treatments that include nerve stimulation to help people maintain their strength.
For now, the best thing older adults can do is to stay active and include a variety of exercises in their routine. Walking, balance exercises, and strength training are all helpful. As research continues, we may find new ways to support the nervous system and help people stay strong and independent as they age.
This important study was published in JAMA Network Open and offers a new way of thinking about aging and strength. It reminds us that muscle weakness isn’t always just about the muscles—it may start in the brain.
If you care about health, please read studies that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation, and vitamin K could lower your heart disease risk by a third.
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