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Skeletal Muscle Aging Atrophy: Assessment and Exercise-Based Treatment
Gabriel Nasri Marzuca-Nassr1,2, Yuri SanMartín-Calísto3, Pablo Guerra-Vega3,4
1Departamento de Medicina Interna, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile. gabriel.marzuca@ufrontera.cl.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|April 19, 2020
Summary
Aging leads to muscle loss and decreased strength. Physical exercise is a key strategy to combat age-related skeletal muscle atrophy and maintain function in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Exercise Physiology
- Sarcopenia Research
Background:
- Aging is characterized by decreased skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia) and increased fat mass.
- This body composition shift leads to reduced muscle strength and functional decline in older adults.
- Geriatric assessments are crucial for evaluating health status and guiding interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore physical exercise as a primary strategy for mitigating age-related skeletal muscle loss.
- To highlight the role of exercise in counteracting sarcopenia and its associated functional impairments.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on aging, sarcopenia, and exercise interventions.
- Focus on physical exercise as a non-pharmacological approach to combat muscle atrophy.
- Discussion of various assessment tools used in geriatric care.
Main Results:
- Physical exercise is a proven strategy to combat skeletal muscle loss during aging.
- Exercise interventions can help improve muscle strength and functionality in older populations.
- Combined strategies, including exercise, show potential efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Physical exercise is a vital intervention for preserving skeletal muscle mass and function in aging individuals.
- Targeted exercise programs can help manage sarcopenia and improve overall health outcomes in the elderly.
- Further research into exercise's role in geriatric care is warranted.
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