How Much Muscle Do You Lose As You Age?

From the time you are born to around the time you turn thirty years, your muscles grow stronger and more significant. However, you start losing your muscle function and mass at some point in your thirties. The cause is linked to age-related sarcopenia. If you are physically inactive, you can lose as much as 3 -5 % of your muscle mass every decade after turning thirty.

You will still lose a certain percentage of your muscles even if you are physically active. There is no EXECUTIVE test or precise level of muscle mass that will identify sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia generally occurs faster around the age of seventy-five. However, the process may speed up as late as eighty or as early as sixty-five. It is a factor in frailty and the possibility of fractures and falls in older seniors.

What leads to Sarcopenia?

Several factors lead to the development of sarcopenia. These include common age-related biological changes to obesity, the environment, disease triggers, hormonal changes, and much more. Scientists have even realized that age-related decrease in testosterone in men can lead to sarcopenia because testosterone helps in building muscle tissue and synthesize proteins.

Scientists have indicated that sarcopenia cannot be entirely avoided, but they are continuing their researches to make a breakthrough in age-related understanding loss of muscles and how people can overcome it. For instance, a study conducted recently indicates most women between the age of sixty-five and seventy years old reduce their muscle mass due to chronic inflammation.

How Much Muscle Mass is Lost as One Ages?

As seen above, the reality is that people lose up to 3 % -5 % of their muscle mass each decade after turning thirty years old. Indeed, a study alleges that men can anticipate losing almost a third of their muscle mass in their lifetime. You are correct if you are thinking to yourself that this is a lot of muscle mass.

For this reason, it is essential for old men and women to take early action to replace the muscles lost and preserve the existing tissues.

The Symptoms of Sarcopenia

The symptoms of this condition include loss of stamina and weakness, and this can typically interfere with physical activity. Reduced activity is known to lead to the shrinking of muscle mass. Sarcopenia is seen to occur in inactive individuals primarily; however, the fact that it attacks physically active individuals shows that there are other aspects of its development.

How to Treat Sarcopenia

Exercise is the typical treatment of this condition, especially the strength training or resistance training. By incorporating weights and resistance bands in your workout, you can increase boost muscle strength and endurance. Resistance training is also essential when it comes to boosting your hormones and neuromuscular system.

Besides, it can enhance the capability of an adult to convert protein to energy within two weeks. Although medics do not advice one to use drugs when treating this condition, a couple of medications are under analysis as of late.

You can also improve your nutrition by taking healthy proteins as they are useful in the building block of muscles. Without sufficient protein in your body, the process of building muscles is a difficult task.

Final Remarks

Preserving muscle mass is not all about strength. Muscle fuels your body’s efficiency, your power, your reaction time, as well as the capability to move safely and comfortably. Strong muscles are also helpful when it comes to eliminating some of the stress in your joints.

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