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Muscle Loss of Old Age Linked to Nerve Loss

posted by martyb on Monday March 12 2018, @09:33PM   Printer-friendly
from the Take-a-hike dept.

takyon writes:

Muscle loss in old age linked to fewer nerve signals

Researchers say they may have worked out why there is a natural loss of muscle in the legs as people age - and that it is due to a loss of nerves. In tests on 168 men, they found that nerves controlling the legs decreased by around 30% by the age of 75. This made muscles waste away, but in older fitter athletes there was a better chance of them being 'rescued' by nerves re-connecting. The scientists published their research in the Journal of Physiology.

As people get older, their leg muscles become smaller and weaker, leading to problems with everyday movements such as walking up stairs or getting out of a chair.

Failure to expand the motor unit size to compensate for declining motor unit numbers distinguishes sarcopenic from non-sarcopenic older men (open, DOI: 10.1113/JP275520) (DX)

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  • (Score: 2) by fyngyrz on Monday March 12 2018, @09:45PM (3 children)

    by fyngyrz (6567) on Monday March 12 2018, @09:45PM (#651542) Journal

    No way, man. Those stairs are getting steeper. Both ways. Hills too. Also the air is thinner, and everyone's treading on my damned lawn, and... and... other stuff.

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  • (Score: 2) by EvilSS on Monday March 12 2018, @09:56PM (2 children)

    by EvilSS (1456) Subscriber Badge on Monday March 12 2018, @09:56PM (#651545)
    I'm pretty sure some jackass is turning up earth's gravity a little bit each year as well.

    • (Score: 2) by fyngyrz on Monday March 12 2018, @11:10PM

      by fyngyrz (6567) on Monday March 12 2018, @11:10PM (#651573) Journal

      Is that what it is? I thought the sky was getting heavier.

    • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Monday March 12 2018, @11:42PM

      by JoeMerchant (3937) on Monday March 12 2018, @11:42PM (#651582)

      That would be the same one that's hardening my corneas a little more every year.

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