Strength Training May Reverse Muscle Aging

It is well known that strength training improves muscle strength and function in men and women of all ages, but some new research suggests that resistance training in older adults can actually change the makeup of the body, effectively turning back the clock on muscle aging. The study was published in the online journal, PLoS One, and looked at whether strength training affected the gene expression profile in older adults muscles. Genes hold the instructions from which the body manufactures protein. Gene expression refers to the processes that translate these instructions into proteins. The scientists found that when they analyzed muscle tissue samples of healthy young (20 to 35) and older adults (over 65), with similar diet and exercise habits, the muscle tissue in the older adults differed significantly from the younger adults. The difference indicated that older muscle tissue had impaired functioning in mitochondria structures within cell that act as the cell’s powerhouse. The exciting finding, however, was that the impairment was at least partially reversible! After a group of the older adults participated in a strength training program for 6 months, their muscles showed a more youthful appearance. These findings suggest that strength training can actually rejuvenate muscle in older individuals. The researcher, Dr. Simon Melov of the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, California, had expected that the volunteers would experience am increase in muscle strength, coming closer to their younger counterparts performance, but they were surprised at the stark turnaround in the gene expression of the muscles. More research is needed to learn more about the muscular changes brought on by exercise, and to see whether aerobic exercise, like walking and cycling, has similar effects on muscle, but the bottom line appears very positive and reinforces the idea that it is never too late to start exercising!