As we grow older, our muscles slowly lose strength and mass. This makes moving more difficult and can also have a negative impact on metabolism. After all, muscles are not only important for movement, but also for the proper functioning of the body, such as the processing of insulin. Scientists have been searching for the causes of this decline for years, and recent research is focusing on the protein NOX4.
NOX4 plays a major role in muscle repair and growth after exercise. In younger people, this protein helps muscles adapt and strengthen following movement. In older adults, the amount of NOX4 decreases, which makes the body respond less well to training. This not only leads to less muscle growth, but also increases damage from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when the body produces extra reactive molecules during energy production, which can be harmful if they are not properly neutralised.
Alongside the decrease in NOX4, muscle stem cells also become less active and connections between nerves and muscles are damaged. Together, these changes ensure that older people benefit less from exercise than younger people. By gaining more insight into the function of NOX4, researchers hope to find new ways to counteract muscle loss and thus improve physical health at an older age.
This research is important because maintaining muscle strength and function is essential for an active and independent lifestyle. By better understanding what changes in our muscles as we age, we are getting closer to treatments that can slow down or even reverse muscle wastage.
Source: Reason
