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Cited by 48Nutrition and Health in AgingMitochondrial Function and PathologyMuscle Physiology and Disorders

Searching for a mitochondrial root to the decline in muscle function with ageing

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Gonzalez‐Freire, Marta, Adelnia, Fatemeh, Moaddel, Ruin, Ferrucci, Luigi·2018·Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle
DOI 10.1002/jcsm.12313PMC PMC5989834
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Abstract

Sarcopenia, the age‐related loss of muscle mass and strength, is linked to a range of adverse outcomes, such as impaired physical performance, cognitive function, and mortality. Preventing sarcopenia may reduce the burden of functional decline with aging and its impact on physiological and economic well‐being in older adults. Mitochondria in muscle cells lose their intrinsic efficiency and capacity to produce energy during aging, and it has been hypothesized that such a decline is the main driver of sarcopenia. Oxidative phosphorylation becomes impaired with aging, affecting muscle performance, and contributing to an age‐associated decline in mobility. However, it is unclear whether this deterioration is due to a reduced mitochondria population, decreased mitochondrial energetic efficiency, or a reduced capacity to dynamically transport oxygen and nutrients into the mitochondria, and addressing these questions is an active area of research. Further research in humans will require use of new “omics” technologies, progress in neuroimaging techniques that permit energy production assessment, and visualization of molecules critical for energetic metabolism, as well as proxy biomarkers of muscle perfusion.

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  • Mitochondrial dysfunction is a known contributor to muscle wasting in ageing and some chronic diseases.

    “Declines in mitochondrial function/abundance also appear to have direct effects on muscle wasting and are thought to be a principal driver of muscle wasting with age and in chronic disease [32, 33].”

    From The Effects of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on Mitochondrial Function Within Skeletal Muscle: A Systematic Review (2025) · cites this paper as [32]

    The Abstract says declining mitochondrial function has been hypothesized to be a main driver of age-related sarcopenia, supporting the ageing portion but not establishing it as a known cause. The neuromuscular-junction section also says the direction of the relationship with muscle loss is unclear. The passages do not support extending the muscle-wasting claim to chronic disease. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Gonzalez‐Freire, M., Adelnia, F., Moaddel, R., & Ferrucci, L.
Affiliations
  • Longitudinal Studies Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging National Institutes of Health Baltimore MD USA
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Ferrucci, Luigi
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2018-05-18
Volume
9
Issue
3
Pages
435-440
ISSN
  • 2190-5991 (ISSN-L)
  • 2190-6009
DOI
10.1002/jcsm.12313
PMC
PMC5989834
OpenAlex
W2803156950
Cited by
48
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 1
FWCI
3.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging
  • National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
Keywords
sarcopenia, mitochondrial dysfunction, muscle aging, oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial biogenesis, muscle blood flow, muscle energy metabolism, mobility decline, older adults, biomarkers
MeSH terms
Aging, Animals, Body Composition, Energy Metabolism, Humans, Mitochondria, Neuromuscular Junction, Oxidation-Reduction, Muscle, Skeletal, Mitophagy

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