Research By Focus

Aging

Musculoskeletal health: An emerging crossover opportunity in healthy aging

How our joints and bones and muscles all work together tends to be overlooked when accessing an injury or overall health, but these components create a healthy body. For examples, age-related muscle loss can contribute to joint pain and join pain can lead to a lack of exercise, which then leads to changes in bone density and more muscle loss.

Osteosarcopenia: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment—facts and numbers

Healthy aging depends on a variety of factors, one of them being correlated with musculoskeletal health (muscular and skeletal systems). Research is showing that osteosarcopenia (the presence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia) is emerging as a serious global health burden for aging populations.

Nestle-EpiGen joint sarcopenia study: Mitochondria dysfunction in muscles a key cause of sarcopenia

A new study conducted found that mitochondria bioenergetics dysfunction is key in the development of sarcopenia and that the condition could be managed by improving mitochondria function.

Maintain Your Muscle

For all stages of life, maintaining muscle mass and muscle function is vital for your quality of life.  Research is showing that building muscle can do more than just make you stronger, it can improve the way your body processes food to help prevent diabetes, lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases, and even improve mental health.

Skeletal muscle mass in relation to 10-year cardiovascular disease incidence among middle aged and older adults: the ATTICA study

While it is already known that skeletal muscle mass declines with increasing age, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between skeletal muscle mass and 10-year cardiovascular disease incidence in healthy 45+ adults.  Findings from this study support the importance of skeletal muscle mass in the prediction of long-term cardiovascular disease risk among middle aged and older adults without any pre-existing cardiovascular disease.

Fortification need? Vitamin D deficiency linked to poor muscle function in older adults

Research has shown that low vitamin D levels in adults aged 60 years and over are linked to impaired muscle strength and performance.

The Try Guys Test Old Age Body Simulators

After age 30, you may begin to lose 3-5% of muscle mass per decade. In this series, the Try Guys wear a body suit developed by MIT that simulates an elderly adult and the physical changes that occur as you age.

The Evolution of Sarcopenia: Could muscle health be the most important determinant for healthy ageing?

As the global population continues to rapidly age, we continue to make advancements that are allowing people to live longer than ever before. John Burstow discusses the risk of developing age-related diseases and conditions due to longer life spans and how muscle health could play a vital role to help combat this.

An Appetite for Health: Americans Over 50 Strive for Heart and Muscle Health

More than two-thirds of older adults are managing more than one chronic disease. This article reviews a new study, conducted by the International Food Information Council and supported by Abbott, which found that heart and muscle health were the top two health topics that adults over 50 years old are paying attention to.

Prevalence of sarcopenia in the world: a systematic review and meta- analysis of general population studies

A review and meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the prevalence of sacropenia in aging adults in different regions around the world.

The incidence of sarcopenia among hospitalized older patients: results from the Glisten study

New research is emerging on the importance of lean body mass during illness and recovery. Sacropenia has become relatively common in aging adults during hospital stays and is associated with nutritional status and the number of days of bed rest.

Sarcopenia among hospitalized patients – A cross-sectional study

A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data on the prevalence of sarcopenia among hospitalized adult patients. The authors concluded that sacropenia is frequent among hospitalized patients and a considerable portion of them were aged under ≥65 years and in non-undernourished, namely among overweight and obese.

The healthcare costs of sarcopenia in the United States.

National representative surveys were examined to determine healthcare expenditures associated with sarcopenia. Authors concluded that sarcopenia imposes significant costs and will escalate unless an effective public health campaign to reduce sarcopenia cases is implemented.

The underappreciated role of muscle in health and disease

A review on muscle metabolism and the importance of optimizing muscle mass, strength, and metabolic function, especially as we age, to help prevent disease and improve health.

The Basics: Build Muscle for Better Health

Research has shown that strength training/muscle-building exercise is important for improving balance, reducing falls as we age, improving blood-sugar control, and improvements in sleep and mental health.

Nutrition and Nutraceuticals for Muscle Maintenance and Recovery: Hero or Hokum?

Muscle loss is a common occurrence during hospitalization, especially in the elderly, but there are a number of nutritional supplements that have been shown to help maintain or recover muscle during and after illness.

HMB may protect against muscle loss during bed rest: Abbott Nutrition

A study showed that a daily dose of 3 grams of HMB (beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate) in healthy older adults during a 10-day bed rest helped prevent declines in lean body mass.

10 healthy superfoods to include in your diet

A study was published that collected data from people that lived beyond the age of 80, the data suggests that what and how we eat has an impact on the quality and duration of our lives.

Sarcopenia: burden and challenges for public health

Sacropenia – defined as the loss of muscle mass and muscle function – has become a major health condition associated with the ageing demographic. The need for an effective and preventive plan is essential with the growing number of older adults affected by this condition.

HMB: The Newest Muscle Builder?

In numerous studies, HMB has been shown to aid in lean mass gains and improve strength in a variety of individuals: trained, untrained, male, female, old, and young.

Mitochondria, Muscle Health, and Exercise with Advancing Age

Muscle health is dependent on the optimal function of its mitochondria. Reduced physical activity along with aging causes declines in mitochondrial function. Exercise is an important strategy to stimulate mitochondrial function to help aging individuals improve muscle function and quality of life.

Rebuilding Muscle Mass: Protein and HMB

Our muscles need protein to provide the nutrients necessary to rebuild, but research has also shown that the nutritional supplement HMB can aid in this process.

Bounce Back Stronger: The Secret To Speedier Recoveries

New research has shown different strategies to help aging adults recover more quickly after a hospital visit.

Financial impact of sarcopenia on hospitalization costs.

In this prospective study hospitalized adult patients with sarcopenia were assessed and hospitalization costs were calculated for each patient. The authors concluded that sarcopenia is related to hospitalization costs and is estimated to increase costs by 58.5% for patients aged <65 years and 34% for patients aged >65 years.

Midlife muscle maintenance: the nutritional secret to building muscle in your 40s and beyond

Healthy muscles are key to allow us to move freely throughout our busy lives. Protein supports growth and repair of muscle for both athletes and non-athletes at different stages in life.

Muscle loss in old age linked to fewer nerve signals

Researchers believe that the loss of muscle mass as we age is due to the loss of nerves. The muscles need to receive a signal from the nervous system to tell them to contract to allow your body to move.

How to build muscle as age tears it down

The loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia) is a leading contributor to frailty and loss of independence associated with aging. Regardless of age or fitness level a study showed that muscle loss and loss of strength can be slowed considerably and even in some cases reversed.

Are Your Genes to Blame for Losing Muscle as You Age?

Every person has different genetic components that can affect muscle function and how that factors into muscle gain and loss for each individual. When genetics are mixed with poor lifestyle choices it can cause you to lose muscle mass at a faster rate. It is important to prevent muscle loss so that aging doesn’t hinder your activities in life.

How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

The effects of the immune system in older adults who maintained a high level of physical activity (cycling) for much of their adult lives was compared to younger adults who were not involved in regular exercise. Authors concluded that exercise in aging adults could prevent immune system declines and help protect against infections.

A Push To Get Older Adults In Better Shape For Surgery

Research suggests that enhancing seniors’ readiness for surgery can potentially lead to improved outcomes. A Perioperative Optimization of Senior Health (POSH) program was implemented by Duke University Medical Center finding that adults that attended the program were less likely to return to the hospital post-op in the next 30 days and more likely to return home without need of home health care.