Cited by 1,797Muscle Physiology and DisordersNutrition and Health in AgingAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research

Sarcopenia: Aging-Related Loss of Muscle Mass and Function

Open access
Larsson, Lars, Degens, Hans, Li, Meishan, Salviati, Leonardo, Lee, Young il, Thompson, Wesley, Kirkland, James L., Sandri, Marco·2019·Physiological Reviews

Abstract

Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle mass and function in the elderly that reduces mobility, diminishes quality of life, and can lead to fall-related injuries, which require costly hospitalization and extended rehabilitation. This review focuses on the aging-related structural changes and mechanisms at cellular and subcellular levels underlying changes in the individual motor unit: specifically, the perikaryon of the α-motoneuron, its neuromuscular junction(s), and the muscle fibers that it innervates. Loss of muscle mass with aging, which is largely due to the progressive loss of motoneurons, is associated with reduced muscle fiber number and size. Muscle function progressively declines because motoneuron loss is not adequately compensated by reinnervation of muscle fibers by the remaining motoneurons. At the intracellular level, key factors are qualitative changes in posttranslational modifications of muscle proteins and the loss of coordinated control between contractile, mitochondrial, and sarcoplasmic reticulum protein expression. Quantitative and qualitative changes in skeletal muscle during the process of aging also have been implicated in the pathogenesis of acquired and hereditary neuromuscular disorders. In experimental models, specific intervention strategies have shown encouraging results on limiting deterioration of motor unit structure and function under conditions of impaired innervation. Translated to the clinic, if these or similar interventions, by saving muscle and improving mobility, could help alleviate sarcopenia in the elderly, there would be both great humanitarian benefits and large cost savings for health care systems.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1152/physrev.00061.2017

Cites

997 of 997 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Ageing leads to a gradual decline in the proportion of fast-twitch (type II) muscle fibres, which may contribute to decreased muscle strength and power.

    “The ageing process leads to a gradual decline in the proportion of fast-twitch (type II) muscle fibres, which may contribute to decreased muscle strength and power56.”

    From Sarcopenic obesity in older adults: a clinical overview (2024) · cites this paper as [56]

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Authors
Larsson, L., Degens, H., Li, M., Salviati, L., Lee, Y. I., Thompson, W., Kirkland, J. L., & Sandri, M.
Affiliations
Manchester Metropolitan University (GB)
Venue
Physiological Reviews
Published
2019-01-01
Volume
99
Issue
1
Pages
427-511
ISSN
  • 0031-9333 (ISSN-L)
  • 1522-1210
OpenAlex
W2897430333
Cited by
1,797
References
997
Citations by year
2026: 311 · 2025: 378 · 2024: 308 · 2023: 245 · 2022: 190 · 2021: 201 · 2020: 111 · 2019: 49 · 2017: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI
8.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Physiological Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • e-space (Manchester Metropolitan University) (acceptedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion)
  • Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT)
  • Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council) (8651)
  • Erling-Parsson Foundation
  • Kommunfullmäktige, Stockholms Stad (Stockholm City Council) (20150423, 20170133)
  • Karolinska Institutet (KI)
  • Fondazione Telethon (Telethon Foundation) (GGP14187c)
  • Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica - Città della Speranza
  • HHS | NIH | National Institute on Aging (U.S. National Institute on Aging) (AG13925, AG041122)
  • the Connor Group
  • the Ted Nash Long Life
  • Noaber Foundation
  • AFM-Telethon (19524)
  • Foundation Leducq
  • AIRC (17388)
  • RISE (545648)
  • Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo (Fondazione Cariparo)
  • HHS | NIH | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (NS20480)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
Keywords
sarcopenia, muscle aging, motor units, neuromuscular junction, muscle fiber atrophy, reinnervation, mitochondrial dysfunction, sarcoplasmic reticulum, neuromuscular disorders, mobility decline, fall-related injuries, sarcopenia interventions
MeSH terms
Aging, Animals, Humans, Muscle Contraction, Muscular Diseases, Neuromuscular Junction, Muscle, Skeletal, Sarcopenia

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