Musculature - the key to healthy aging

The reduction of muscle mass, however, already begins in young adulthood and accelerates beyond the age of 50. As a result, muscle mass and strength decrease by up to 50% between the ages of 20 and 70. This primarily leads to a decrease in the volume of the muscle fibers, but also to their loss. In addition, the number of motor units decreases. These are the functional units consisting of several muscle fibers and the motor nerve supplying them. The more motor units a muscle area contains, above all smaller ones, the more finely movements can be controlled.

For example, only a few muscle fibers in the hand, face and eye muscles are controlled by a motor neuron, whereas it can be up to 2000 in the large limb muscles. If the number of motor units decreases with age, the result is predominantly an impairment of fine motor skills and muscle coordination.

Currently, sarcopenia is assumed to be a multifactorial event. In addition to a genetic predisposition, hormonal changes, oxidative stress, loss of motor units and protein metabolism disorders are among the factors that favor increased muscle loss. Lifestyle is no less important. For example, lack of exercise and a low-protein diet contribute to muscle loss.

The function of the muscular system is indispensable for maintaining the health of the body and quality of life. It is not only of central importance for mobility, but is also a protein reservoir that the body can fall back on in exceptional situations and, at the same time, is the body's largest metabolic organ. A large muscle mass helps to burn fat, prevent diabetes mellitus type 2 and demonstrably prolong life expectancy.

Although the breakdown of muscle mass is part of the natural aging process, it can be influenced throughout a person’s life. Those who build up a large muscle mass at a young age have a “cushion” from which they also benefit in old age. On the other hand, studies show that it is never too late for physical training. Even at an advanced age, endurance sports, weight training and a high-protein diet can slow down or even reverse the loss of muscle mass and mobility.

However, muscle loss is often only recognized as a problem when there are relevant functional limitations. Sedentary activities and a decreasing level of activity over the course of a lifetime ensure that decreasing strength remains unnoticed for a long time or is accepted as a sign of old age. Also, on the scales, muscle loss is not necessarily noticeable, since musculature is increasingly replaced by fat and connective tissue. For this reason, even with a normal weight and Body Mass Index (BMI), there may already be a risky increase in fat tissue.

The earlier muscle loss is detected and treated, the better the long-term prognosis. Bioimpedance analysis using seca mBCA offers a reliable method for measuring muscle mass. Non-invasive, it enables precise measurement of muscle mass in just a few seconds and is therefore suitable for in-patient and out-patient use as well as for regular follow-up checks. Thus muscle loss can be diagnosed when it starts and therapeutic measures can be taken early and constantly evaluated.