Scientists have identified previously unreported genes that appear to play a key role in the muscle aging process.
It is hoped that the findings from the Nottingham Trent University study could be used to help delay the impact of the aging process.
Muscle aging is a natural process that happens to everyone, resulting in people losing muscle mass, strength and endurance as they age – and is linked to increasing falls and physical disabilities.
The work provides new knowledge and understanding of the genes and mechanisms that drive muscle aging.
Researchers say they may have found new targets for drug discovery that could spark treatments for aging muscles and for older adults living with sarcopenia, the increased muscle loss associated with this process.
Physical exercise is currently the only recommended treatment for muscle aging and sarcopenia that shows benefits in improving life expectancy and delaying the onset of age-related disorders.
The new study involved analysis of gene expression datasets from both younger (ages 21-43) and older (63-79) adults related to both muscle aging and resistance exercise.
Using artificial intelligence, the researchers were able to identify the top 200 genes that affect – or are affected by – aging or exercise, along with the strongest interactions between them.
They found that one gene in particular – USP54 – appears to play a key role in the progression of muscle aging and muscle breakdown in the elderly.
The significance of the findings was then further confirmed through muscle biopsy in older adults, where the gene was found to be highly expressed.
They also discovered several potential genes associated with resistance exercise. While further research is needed, the team argues that these could help develop more informed exercise-based interventions aimed at preserving muscle mass in older people, which would be key to mitigating falls and disability.
We want to identify genes that we can use to delay the effects of the aging process and extend the span of health.”
Dr Lívia Santos, specialist in musculoskeletal biology, Nottingham Trent University
He said: “We used artificial intelligence to identify the genes, gene interactions and molecular pathways and processes associated with muscle aging that have so far remained unexplored. The data were analyzed in 20 different ways and each time the significant genes were found to be the same.
“Muscle aging is a huge challenge. As people lose muscle mass and strength, we see changes in their gait that make them more prone to falls, but they are also at increased risk of developing a range of physical disabilities, making this a major public health problem.
“We urgently need to understand the mechanisms that regulate muscle aging. This is vital for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia and for creating a greater level of dependency among the elderly.”
Researcher Dr Janelle Tarum said: “This study suggests that AI has the potential to benefit the field of muscle aging and sarcopenia.
“AI has not previously been used in the field of skeletal muscle mass regulation. This motivated us to apply it to discover new genes to better understand and predict sarcopenia or to be used as targets for treatments that could benefit sarcopenia research.”
The study, which also involved Sweden’s Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institute and Anglia Ruskin University, is reported in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle.
Source:
Journal Reference:
Tarum, J., et al. (2024). Artificial neural network inference analysis identified novel genes and gene interactions associated with skeletal muscle aging. Journal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle. doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.13562.
