Scientists discover how exercise reverses muscle aging

Scientists have uncovered a biological mechanism that helps explain how exercise protects aging muscles and restores their ability to repair themselves. The discovery reveals why physical activity can counteract some of the changes that weaken muscles with age and points toward potential new treatments for age-related muscle loss.

The research, led by Duke-NUS Medical School in collaboration with Singapore General Hospital and Cardiff University, identified a molecular system that becomes disrupted as muscles grow older. Exercise can help bring this system back into balance, allowing muscle cells to remove damaged proteins and maintain healthy tissue.

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the findings provide new insight into the biology of muscle aging. They also help explain why exercise may be more effective for some older individuals than others.