Physiology of Ageing Skeletal Muscle and the Protective Effects of Exercise

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2025

Publisher

Wiley

Source Publication

Journal of Physiology

Source ISSN

0022-3751

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1113/JP287926

Abstract

In 2020, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared 2021–2030 the ‘Decade of Healthy Ageing’, a global collaborative call to action for governments, clinicians, scientists and society to work together to improve the lives of the ageing population. One important area of scientific inquiry for this initiative is understanding why advancing age leads to a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia) and function (strength and power). This is a critically important problem because skeletal muscle health is not only essential for maintaining the mobility and physical function required for independent living but is also important for systemic health. For example, skeletal muscle helps with the regulation of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance and maintains the plasma amino acid concentrations necessary for hepatic gluconeogenesis and tissue regeneration and repair in response to injury and disease. While the importance to society is eminently clear, the physio-logical mechanisms underlying the ageing skeletal muscle phenotype remain poorly understood.

Comments

Journal of Physiology, Vol. 603, No.1 (January, 2025): 3-6. DOI.

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