Role of the nervous system in sarcopenia and muscle atrophy with aging: strength training as a countermeasure

Aging is characterized by loss of spinal motor neurons (MNs) due to apoptosis, reduced insulin‐like growth factor I signaling, elevated amounts of circulating cytokines, and increased cell oxidative stress. The age‐related loss of spinal MNs is paralleled by a reduction in muscle fiber number and si...

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Published in:Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports 2010-02, Vol.20 (1), p.49-64
Main Authors: Aagaard, P., Suetta, C., Caserotti, P., Magnusson, S. P., Kjær, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Aging - physiology
Animals
Apoptosis - physiology
Axons - physiology
CNS
Electromyography
Exercise
Humans
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - physiology
motor neurons
Motor Neurons - physiology
muscle power
Muscle, Skeletal - cytology
Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology
Muscular Atrophy - physiopathology
Musculoskeletal diseases
Nervous system
Physical fitness
Resistance Training
RFD
Sarcopenia - physiopathology
strength training
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Summary:Aging is characterized by loss of spinal motor neurons (MNs) due to apoptosis, reduced insulin‐like growth factor I signaling, elevated amounts of circulating cytokines, and increased cell oxidative stress. The age‐related loss of spinal MNs is paralleled by a reduction in muscle fiber number and size (sarcopenia), resulting in impaired mechanical muscle performance that in turn leads to a reduced functional capacity during everyday tasks. Concurrently, maximum muscle strength, power, and rate of force development are decreased with aging, even in highly trained master athletes. The impairment in muscle mechanical function is accompanied and partly caused by an age‐related loss in neuromuscular function that comprise changes in maximal MN firing frequency, agonist muscle activation, antagonist muscle coactivation, force steadiness, and spinal inhibitory circuitry. Strength training appears to elicit effective countermeasures in elderly individuals even at a very old age (>80 years) by evoking muscle hypertrophy along with substantial changes in neuromuscular function, respectively. Notably, the training‐induced changes in muscle mass and nervous system function leads to an improved functional capacity during activities of daily living.
ISSN:0905-7188
1600-0838
DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.01084.x