Can Resistance Training Improve Muscles’ Recycling Capacity?

Autophagosome content increased by resistance training in previously untrained young men may reduce with age.

Resistance training can increase autophagosome content in previously untrained young men, finds a new study. This response reduces with aging. The findings of the study are published in the journal Acta Physiologica .

Autophagy is a major catabolic route in cells responsible for the clearance of proteins and organelles. Pathological levels of autophagy are associated with muscle wasting, but physiological levels are important for cellular recycling.

Bigorexia / Muscle Dysmorphia - Causes Symptoms Signs Complications Treatment
Bigorexia or muscle dysmorphia is a mental disorder most commonly seen in the males, wherein the individual is obsessed with his muscle size and has a constant desire to develop very large muscles.

‘Aging might reduce positive effects of resistance training induced improvement in muscle quality.’

In the present study, indicators of autophagy and unfolded protein response (UPR), which is another system for maintaining cellular homeostasis, were investigated from the muscle biopsies after a single bout of resistance exercise and after 21 weeks of resistance training in previously untrained young and older men.

"Aging may thus blunt some of the positive effects of resistance training induced improvement in muscle quality," says PhD student Jaakko Hentilä and Academy of Finland Research Fellow Juha Hulmi.

However, the researchers reported that UPR that is induced by the accumulation of misfolded proteins in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was activated by a bout of unaccustomed resistance exercise regardless of age. Skeletal muscle appears to adapt to resistance exercise similarly in young and older people in many ways.

Stem Cells Used to Engineer Heart Muscle Similar That of an Adult
Scientists grow mature human heart muscle resembling native heart muscle from stem cells, a breakthrough that could transform the face of biomedical research.

The study was conducted in the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä in collaboration with researchers in Oslo.

Why Daily Muscle Stretching Exercise Is Important for Elderly People
Muscle stretching exercises carried out on a regular basis can improve the flexibility of muscles and increase the blood flow to muscles in the elderly.

Source-Eurekalert

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New insights on how nerves protect healthy muscles. This understanding can help delay old-age frailty (weakness) by either slowing the decline or by increasing the success of nerve branching to rescue detached muscle fibers and thereby stop muscle wasting.