As we get older, our bodies change in many ways. An important process affected by this is the circadian rhythm. This rhythm ensures that our body is active or at rest at set times of the day. It is comparable to a biological clock that helps cells and organs work together. In old age, this clock often becomes disrupted, which can have an impact on our health.
A recent study focuses on the relationship between circadian rhythm disruption and the muscle loss that many older people experience, also known as sarcopenia. Sarcopenia means that your muscles become thinner and weaker due to ageing. The study shows that when the biological clock does not function properly, this may contribute to the decline in muscle strength and muscle mass.
Restoring the circadian rhythm may therefore present a new opportunity to combat sarcopenia. Various parts of the body each have their own biological clock, and these sometimes fall out of sync as people get older. By better aligning these clocks again, scientists hope to improve muscle function and thereby positively influence the ageing process.
Although this research direction is still in its infancy and there are currently no ready-made treatments, it does demonstrate the value of sleep and daily rhythms for healthy ageing. A good rhythm in sleep and activity could therefore mean more than we thought.
A stable circadian rhythm contributes to the maintenance of strength and vitality in later life.
Source: Reason
