As we grow older, it’s common to notice our muscles don’t feel as strong as they once did. Many people assume this is just a natural part of aging.
But a new study from Ohio University offers a surprising explanation: it might not be your muscles that are the main problem—it could be your brain and nerves.
The study was led by researcher Brian Clark and included 66 people in their 70s. The team wanted to better understand what causes muscle weakness in older adults. They focused on the leg muscles that help straighten the knee and asked participants to push as hard as they could against resistance.
After the participants used their own effort, the researchers used electrical stimulation to activate the same muscles. If the muscles produced more strength when stimulated, it showed that the muscles were still capable of more—but the brain and nerves weren’t sending strong enough signals to activate them fully.
The results were eye-opening. People who seemed weaker during the first test showed big improvements when their muscles were stimulated. The weakest participants saw their strength increase by about 14.2%. That’s nearly twice the improvement seen in those who were already stronger.
This means that in many cases, the muscles themselves are not failing—it’s the communication between the brain, nerves, and muscles that is breaking down. As we age, this communication may not work as well, leading to muscle weakness even though the muscles still have potential.
This discovery could change how we think about aging and strength. Instead of only focusing on building muscle, we might need to pay more attention to keeping our nervous system strong and active.
Activities that combine movement and brain activity, like balance exercises or coordination drills, may be more helpful than we realized. These types of activities challenge the brain and nervous system, not just the muscles.
The study also points to possible future treatments. If we can find ways to improve how nerves talk to muscles, we might be able to help older adults stay stronger and more independent for longer.
Of course, staying active is still one of the best things we can do as we get older. But this research shows that strength training might work even better if we also include exercises that boost brain-to-muscle communication.
Brian Clark’s study, published in JAMA Network Open, is an important step forward in understanding aging and strength. It reminds us that the body works as a whole—and to stay strong, we need to care for both our muscles and our nervous system.
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.
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