As people get older, many notice they are not as strong as they used to be. This loss of strength is not just a normal part of aging for some—it can be something more serious called sarcopenia.
This condition leads to much weaker muscles and affects many older adults. It can make everyday tasks, like opening a jar or walking up stairs, much harder.
Researchers from the University of Exeter, led by Garan Jones, have been studying why this happens. Their new study, published in Nature Communications, looked into the biological reasons behind this problem.
Sarcopenia affects about 1 in 10 people over the age of 50. When the condition is severe, it’s not just frustrating—it can lead to major health problems. People with sarcopenia are more likely to get sick or even die earlier than others their age.
To learn more, the scientists studied the genetic information of more than 250,000 people who were 60 or older. This data came from the UK Biobank and 21 other large research groups. They used handgrip strength as a simple test to check muscle strength. If someone has a weak grip, it could be a sign of sarcopenia.
The researchers found 15 areas in human DNA that are linked to weaker muscles. This means that genes may play a big role in whether someone develops sarcopenia.
Twelve of these DNA regions had never been connected to muscle strength before. These new discoveries are helping scientists better understand how muscles and bones work and how the immune system may be involved.
The study also found links between muscle weakness and certain things in the blood. For example, people with lower levels of red blood cells or higher signs of inflammation were more likely to have weak muscles. This suggests that blood health and inflammation could be part of the reason why muscle strength declines with age.
There were also connections between sarcopenia and diseases like type-2 diabetes and arthritis. People with these health problems may be at greater risk of losing muscle strength as they grow older.
This research is very useful because it can help doctors figure out who is at risk of sarcopenia. With this knowledge, better treatments and prevention plans can be made. In the future, new medicines could be created to target the genes or body processes involved in muscle loss.
Overall, this study is a big step in understanding how aging affects our bodies. It offers hope that we can find ways to help older people stay strong and independent for longer.
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.
