One Change That Comes With Aging May Raise Your Risk of Serious Infections
A consultant geriatrician told Newsweek that maintaining strength as you age can provide a vital buffer against illness.
Aging brings about a gradual decline in muscle mass, a condition known as sarcopenia. While this loss of muscle may make daily tasks more challenging, it could also raise the risk of serious infections, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed data from over 458,000 adults in the UK Biobank and discovered that individuals with sarcopenia faced a significantly higher long-term risk of infections compared to those with healthy muscle function.
This heightened risk encompassed respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, and sepsis. The study, published in MedScience, tracked participants for a median of over 12 years, making it one of the largest investigations into the connection between muscle health and infection risk. Professor Arshad Rather, a geriatrician, emphasized that while some muscle loss is typical with age, severe weakness that hampers daily activities is not inevitable.
Subtle signs of sarcopenia include difficulty in getting out of a chair without using arms, slower stairs, straining with heavy objects, slower walking pace, persistent fatigue, and altered clothing fit despite stable weight. The study's findings support the notion that muscle plays a crucial role in immune health. Although primarily known for movement, muscles also function as endocrine organs, releasing signaling molecules called myokines that regulate immune responses and inflammation.
Moreover, muscles serve as a reserve of amino acids that the body can utilize during illness or stress. The research suggests several potential mechanisms linking sarcopenia to increased infection risk, including impaired production of immune-regulating myokines, decreased availability of amino acids for immune cells, and chronic low-grade inflammation that weakens the body's defenses.
Rather highlighted that muscle loss not only impairs movement but also affects immune regulation and amino acid availability, making it essential to protect muscle health as one ages. Strategies such as regular resistance training and adequate protein intake, especially in one's 50s and 60s, can help maintain muscle strength and provide a buffer against future illnesses.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
