Anti-aging therapies: Age related changes in muscle function (strength, power)

Anti-aging therapies

Muscle mass decline with aging is associated with a similar decrease of muscle strength. Which affects mainly the powerful muscle contraction.

It appears, that muscle knee strength reaches its peak around 30 years of age. Then remains stable until the age of 50 years and afterwards declines with a rate 12 to 15% per decade.

Similar rates of muscle strength decline were reported in different muscles tested, as ankle, elbow flexor and extensor and grip strength.

Muscle strength starts to decline from the 4th decade of life at an annual rate varying according to muscle tested. The decrease of growth hormone and testosterone levels with aging may contribute to the deterioration in our muscle strength with age.

Additionally, muscle power which is the product of the force and the speed of muscle contraction, declines with an even higher speed.

Taking into account that muscle power is closely associated with physical performance, the decline of muscle power with aging is of particular importance. So all muscle performance characteristics (mass, strength, power) decline with ageing.

Consequently, anti-aging therapies which could deal with the inevitable decline of our physical function as we get older, is of high importance.

Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy

Therefore, the improvement of muscle function after combined hormone replacement therapy in men is of great clinical significance and proves its role as an anti-aging therapy.

Exercise alone on the other hand, seems to be an insufficient stimulus. For physical function preservation when there is a marked growth hormone and testosterone deficiency. As seen in older men.

Therefore growth hormone and testosterone replacement therapy in men who are severe hormone deficient, by doctors specialised in Hormone Replacement Therapy, may indeed improve their physical function and quality of life.