Aging muscles may be losing strength for a reason scientists missed

A new discovery from the University of Missouri is revealing an overlooked reason muscles can lose strength with age. The findings could eventually lead to treatments designed to help older adults remain active and independent, from walking safely to continuing everyday activities with family.

W. David Arnold, executive director of the NextGen Precision Health initiative, and his collaborators found that communication between nerves and muscles becomes less reliable as people age. This breakdown appears to contribute to sarcopenia, the age-related decline in muscle strength and function that affects nearly half of adults older than 80.

The researchers also identified a protein that may offer a way to improve how aging muscles respond to nerve signals, raising the possibility that at least part of this decline could eventually be treated.