Skeletal Muscle Aging Is A Significant Contributor To Systemic Aging
We often think of our muscles primarily for movement and strength, and it’s true that as we get older, our muscles tend to lose mass and power. However, recent research reveals a much more profound role for our muscles in the aging process of our entire body. It turns out that aging muscles aren’t just passively deteriorating; they are actively sending signals that can accelerate aging in other parts of the body.
Beyond their role in locomotion, muscles function like an endocrine organ, meaning they produce and release signaling molecules. These special molecules, called “myokines,” along with other substances and cellular components, act as messengers, communicating with distant organs such as the brain, heart, and metabolic organs.
When muscles age, this communication can go awry. Aged muscles can release myokines and other factors that promote inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and other detrimental changes throughout the body. This can contribute to a range of age-related conditions, including metabolic syndrome, certain cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The aging process within the muscle itself involves several changes, such as an imbalance in protein production and breakdown, the accumulation of fat within muscle tissue (myosteatosis), and the loss of nerve connections to muscle fibers.
Understanding this intricate connection between muscle aging and overall bodily aging is crucial. It suggests that interventions aimed at keeping our muscles healthy, such as exercise and proper nutrition, might not only preserve muscle function but also play a significant role in promoting healthy aging across the entire organism and reducing the burden of age-related diseases.
Source: link to paper