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A new reaÂson to build musÂcle: brain health (The Globe and Mail):
… a recent study from researchers at McGill UniÂverÂsiÂty, pubÂlished in the jourÂnal JAMA NetÂwork Open, offers a new reaÂson for conÂtinÂuÂing to work on buildÂing musÂcle: It’s good for your brain, not just your biceps. Greater musÂcle mass, the results sugÂgest, helps ward off cogÂniÂtive decline in oldÂer adults beyond what you’d expect based on their exerÂcise levÂels alone.
The findÂings are drawn from more than 8,000 oldÂer adults in the CanaÂdiÂan LonÂgiÂtuÂdiÂnal Study on Aging, with an averÂage age of 73. They underÂwent a series of baseÂline assessÂments that includÂed an X‑ray meaÂsureÂment of their musÂcle mass, a batÂtery of 10 cogÂniÂtive tests and quesÂtionÂnaires about their exerÂcise habits and othÂer health charÂacÂterÂisÂtics. The cogÂniÂtive tests were repeatÂed three years later…
TeasÂing out exactÂly how musÂcle helps the brain remains a chalÂlenge. There are plenÂty of indiÂrect links: Those with more musÂcle are genÂerÂalÂly more active, which may help mainÂtain the flow of oxyÂgen-rich blood to the brain, for example.
But Dr. Chevalier’s results sugÂgest there may be more direct mechÂaÂnisms too. One posÂsiÂbilÂiÂty is the role of myokines, a set of horÂmone-like molÂeÂcules proÂduced by musÂcle cells that can travÂel to the brain and influÂence mood, learnÂing and othÂer cogÂniÂtive funcÂtions. Greater musÂcle mass may also help keep blood gluÂcose levÂels in check, proÂtectÂing the brain from damage.
The Study:
AssoÂciÂaÂtion of Low MusÂcle Mass With CogÂniÂtive FuncÂtion DurÂing a 3‑Year FolÂlow-up Among Adults Aged 65 to 86 Years in the CanaÂdiÂan LonÂgiÂtuÂdiÂnal Study on Aging (JAMA NetÂwork Open). Key Points:
- QuesÂtion: Is low musÂcle mass assoÂciÂatÂed with declines in difÂferÂent cogÂniÂtive domains over 3Â years?
- FindÂings: In cohort study that includÂed 8279 oldÂer adults, the presÂence of low musÂcle mass was sigÂnifÂiÂcantÂly and indeÂpenÂdentÂly assoÂciÂatÂed with faster subÂseÂquent execÂuÂtive funcÂtion decline over 3Â years.
- MeanÂing: These findÂings sugÂgest the potenÂtial for clinÂiÂcal screenÂing of oldÂer adults to idenÂtiÂfy those with low musÂcle mass to assist in risk detecÂtion of cogÂniÂtive impairÂment development.
The Study in Context:
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