Aging Muscles May Be Losing Strength for a Reason Scientists Missed
Researchers found aging muscles lose reliable nerve signaling and said blocking the ClC-1 channel improved strength in animal models.
- Mizzou researchers published a study in The Journal of Clinical Investigation identifying neuromuscular junction failure as a cause of sarcopenia, the age-related muscle weakness affecting nearly half of adults older than 80.
- For more than 10 years, David Arnold, executive director of Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health, studied the neuromuscular junction and discovered that communication reliability between nerves and muscles declines with age.
- "We identified an important point of failure at the final step in communication between nerves and muscles," Arnold said. Loss of NaV1 prevents muscle fibers from responding to nerve signals.
- Collaborating with NMD Pharma, a biotechnology company in Denmark, researchers targeted the ClC-1 protein and showed the failure is "potentially reversible." Partially inhibiting ClC-1 improved muscle strength in animal models.
- While the research offers hope for future pharmaceutical treatments, Arnold emphasized that physical activity remains the current standard to combat sarcopenia. The team's goal is ensuring a person's health span remains as high as possible.
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A novel agent for partial blockade of chloride channels could restore the decreasing signal transmission and reverse the loss of function in sarcopenia.
Aging muscles may be losing strength for a reason scientists missed
A newly identified breakdown in communication between nerves and muscles could help explain why people lose strength as they age. Researchers were able to improve muscle strength in an animal model by targeting a key protein, raising hopes that some age-related weakness could eventually be treated.
Sawalev's muscle weakness with age may not be merely the result of the loss of muscle mass, as widely believed, as researchers have revealed another disorder at the point of contact between nerves and muscles, and may explain an important aspect of the decline in power among older persons. According to Medical Express.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have identified a hidden cause for age-related muscle weakness, which can pave the way for new treatment strategies. The discovery reveals that communication between nerves...
In a test on mice, the compound protected a signal important for muscle regeneration. It has not yet been proven to prevent muscle loss.
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