Sarcopenia: the gliogenic perspective

It has been approximately 25 years since Dr. Rosenberg first brought attention to sarcopenia. To date, this aging-associated condition is recognized as a chronic loss of muscle mass and is usually accompanied by dynapenia. Despite its poly-etiological factors, sarcopenia has a strong neurogenic component underlying this chrono-degeneration of muscle mass, as shown in recent studies. As it seems plausible to explain the origin of sarcopenia through a motor neuron degeneration model, the focus of sarcopenia research should combine neuroscience with the study of the original myocyte and satellite cells. Although a complete mechanism underlying the development of sarcopenia has yet to be elucidated, we propose that the primary trigger of sarcopenia could be gliogenic in origin based on the close relationship between the glia, neurons and non-neural cells, for example, the motor unit and its associated glia in both the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). In addition to muscle cells, both of the neural cells are affected by aging.