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Review
. 2018 Aug 24;14(4):551-558.
doi: 10.12965/jer.1836268.134. eCollection 2018 Aug.

Role of exercise in age-related sarcopenia

Su-Zi Yoo  1 , Mi-Hyun No  1 , Jun-Won Heo  1 , Dong-Ho Park  1 , Ju-Hee Kang  2 , So Hun Kim  3 , Hyo-Bum Kwak  1
Affiliations
Review

Role of exercise in age-related sarcopenia

Su-Zi Yoo et al. J Exerc Rehabil. .

Abstract

Sarcopenia is an age-associated decline of skeletal muscle mass and function and is known to lead to frailty, cachexia, osteoporosis, metabolic syndromes, and death. Notwithstanding the increasing incidence of sarcopenia, the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving age-related sarcopenia are not completely understood. This article reviews current definitions of sarcopenia, its potential mechanisms, and effects of exercise on sarcopenia. The pathogenesis of age-related sarcopenia is multifactorial and includes myostatin, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondria-derived problems. Especially, age-induced mitochondrial dysfunction triggers the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by mitochondria, impedes mitochondrial dynamics, interrupts mitophagy, and leads to mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Aerobic exercise provides at least a partial solution to sarcopenia as it ameliorates mitochondria-derived problems, and resistance exercise strengthens muscle mass and function. Furthermore, combinations of these exercise types provide the benefits of both. Collectively, this review summarizes potential mechanisms of age-related sarcopenia and emphasizes the use of exercise as a therapeutic strategy, suggesting that combined exercise provides the most beneficial means of combating age-related sarcopenia.

Keywords: Aging; Exercise; Mitochondria; Sarcopenia; Skeletal muscle.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Potential mechanisms of age-related sarcopenia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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