06/15/2025
“One of the most important roles it plays is in glucose metabolism. Skeletal muscle regulates more than 75%of insulin-mediated glucose disposal, helping control glucose and lipids while reducing the risk for metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes.”
“humans lose 0.5% of their skeletal muscle mass per year in their 40s, 1-2% after age 50 years, and approximately 3% per year after age 60 years.”
“prefrailty is now more common in younger people. We’re becoming physically compromised at younger and younger ages.”
“We can’t predict when an accident or critical illness may hit, yet the state of our skeletal muscle at that time can play a dramatic role in our recovery…This is why 50% of women 65 years old or older who break a hip in a fall never walk again.”
“A lifelong approach to muscular health,…involves regular resistance training and consuming adequate dietary protein.”
“resistance training directly stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and improves mitochondrial function, he said. Mitochondria are critical for energy production, and their decline is linked to aging and chronic disease.”
“This has been shown to improve energy metabolism and reduce oxidative stress. For older adults, this can translate to not only better endurance but also a lower risk for metabolic diseases and improved longevity.”
“resistance training is effective in preventing osteoporosis and reducing the risk for fractures in older adults. While weight-bearing exercises like walking and running are beneficial, resistance training targets areas at high risk for fractures, such as the hips and spine”
“muscles release myokines, such as interleukin-6, which have anti-inflammatory effects. These myokines help regulate the immune system, improve fat metabolism, and contribute to better metabolic health. This means that beyond strength and mobility, muscle health plays a key role in modulating chronic, low-grade inflammation — a driver of many age-related diseases including cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease.”
“the evaluation of muscle health…dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry… surrogate assessments such as calf circumference…simple questions (“Do you do any form of resistance training?”)…can go a long way to establishing a baseline…grip strength…to monitor progress over time…a proxy for overall strength.”
“exercise prescribing rates as low as 17% with 84% of doctors saying they felt inadequately trained in the subject of resistance training.”
“two key areas that may make strength training more palatable to patients: First, data now showthat using lighter weights can build just as much strength as heavier weights, so long as the lifter pushes to near failure in the last few repetitions (aka “the hard reps”).”
“And second: It’s never too late to start. In a meta-analysis of adults aged 70 years or older (including nonagenarians), Schoenfeld’s team saw profound improvements in muscle strength and muscle hypertrophy within 8- to 12-week training programs. “These were novice trainees who’ve never done anything before,” he said.”
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/undervalued-medical-power-muscle-2025a1000fux
Desiree Di Lorenzo
We focus on looks and performance, but muscle’s metabolic, anti-inflammatory, and disease-resisting properties make it an available, improvable key to better health.
