Question

(a) Describe skeletal muscle loss with age and identify risk factors for sarcopenia.

b) Describe three (3) mechanisms involved in the aetiology of sarcopenia.    (6 marks)

c) Describe the relative benefits of treatments for sarcopenia to improve the health of older adults.   (8 marks)

Answer 1

a) Loss of skeletal muscle and function with age is referred to as Sarcopenia. Rosenberg in 1989 gave the term sarcopenia which means 'sarx'- flesh, 'penia'- loss. It is characterised by the loss of function of skeletal muscles leading to physical disability, decreased muscular performance- walking and excercising.

Risk Factors- Gender, Age,Amount of Physical Activity.

b) Mechanisms involved in aetiology of sarcopenia:

1. Lack of physical activity:

One of the major factor leading to sarcopenia. Lack of physical activity leads to reduced muscle strength and then reduced muscle mass. Aerobic excercises like running, swimming, cycling increase the supply of oxygen to muscles therby protecting their function and structure.

2. Mitochondrial Dysfunction:

With aging there is loss in activity of muscle mitochondrial DNA which leads to reduced muscle cell protein synthesis and ATP synthesis. This leads to death of muscle fibre and lost muscle mass.

3. Apoptosis:

This is the reason of mitochondrial muscle dysfunction due to different mutations.

c) Benfits of treatment for sacropenia:

1. Physical activity- most effective method of treatment is resistance training.It increases the lost strength and muscle mass.

2. Nutrition- Increased protein uptake.

3. Taking growth hormone, estrogen, tribolone, Vitamin D, creatine supplements.