One aspect of aging is loss of strength and the amount of muscle that we have. In our late 20’s we start to lose muscle.
The age-related loss of muscle is called sarcopenia. This loss of muscle is slow at first, but then from the 40’, there is a more rapid loss of muscle. For more information see the post Dieters Lose Muscle If Not Exercising.
Sarcopenia can lead to problems for the elderly. Having weak muscles particularly in the legs can lead to a fall and that characteristic shuffling gait. With weak leg muscles, the feet are not lifted far enough off the ground. This increases the tendency to trip and fall since the feet can catch more easily. The fear of falling causes the gaze to be down, rather than ahead when walking, which besides reducing anticipation of problems ahead, makes you look old.
Exercising regularly will slow the loss of muscle and help maintain physical abilities much later in life.
Though exercising helps slow sarcopenia, it has been assumed that there is no way to reverse loss. Now there is research that suggests that there may be a way to, in part, reverse some of the loss.
The research looked at a growth factor called mechano growth factor, abbreviated to MGF. This growth factor is formed from the same gene as myotrophin, which has been investigated for use in increasing muscle mass, particularly in ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) with mixed results.
Mechano growth factor is made in muscle when they are stretched during exercise. It has been shown to cause satellite cells within the muscle (not fully developed “baby” muscle cells) to divide and fuse with muscle cells to repair them. It is the cycle of muscle damage and repair that results in increased muscle strength.
Now, it has been shown that elderly men who were given MGF, while in an exercise program had significantly increased muscle mass.
This suggests that there may be a way to partially reverse sarcopenia. If this turns out to be correct, there could be a huge impact on quality of life, with more confident walking and less falls. It could, also, result in reduced health care costs, both for hospitalization but also long term care.
[tags]sarcopenia, mechano growth factor, MGF, myotrophin, muscle, satellite cells[/tags]
