Musculoskeletal Ageing: Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, and Sarcopenia Flashcards
What is functional reserve and how does it change with old age?
Ability to look after self
Decreases
What happens once the functional reserve threshold is reached?
Loss of independence
What is sarcopenia?
Loss of muscle mass, quality, strength
What is the impact of sarcopenia?
Decreases functional reserve - drives frailty, mortality
Does muscle strength or mass decline faster with age?
Strength
Is loss of muscle strength or mass the key risk factor for disability in old age?
Strength
Name a test of muscle strength
Grip strength
Which pathologies in ageing muscle underlie sarcopenia?
Decreased actin and myosin
Decreased mitos
Increased fat infiltration
Name the age-related risk factors for sarcopenia
Decreased anabolic hormones (e.g. IGF1, oestrogen, testosterone)
Anorexia of ageing
Increased catabolic stimuli (inflammatory cytokines)
Physical inactivity
Which is the biggest age-related risk factor for sarcopenia?
Physical inactivity
What is the effect of testosterone replacement therapy in old men?
Increased muscle mass and strength
What is the effect of oestrogen replacement therapy in old women?
Inconclusive
Why does anorexia of ageing occur?
Depression
Drug side effects
Which treatment can reverse sarcopenia?
Resistance training
Which pathway regulates muscle mass?
PI3k-Akt
Which pathway is upstream of the PI3k-Akt pathway?
Insulin/IIS signalling
What are the 2 pathways in PI3k-Akt signalling and their effects on muscle?
mTOR activation - increased protein synthesis - muscle growth
Myostatin causes PI3k inhibition - activates FOXO (transcription factor) - MuRF-1 expression - muscle breakdown
How do extreme periods of inactivity in the elderly affect muscles?
Decreased leg mass and strength
Decreased mTORC1 signalling
Increased MuRF-1 expression
Decreased protein synthesis
What is the evidence for a role of inflammation in sarcopenia?
COPD patients have increased MuRF-1 expression Sepsis patients (inactivity and pro-inflammatory state) have decreased strength
What is immunosenescence?
Decline in immune function with age - includes inflammageing
What is inflammageing?
Chronic inflammation with age
Which cell type produces IL-6?
Myocytes
Name a pro-inflammatory cytokine
IL-6
What is the effect of IL-6 on muscle?
Increases proteasomal activity - increases muscle breakdown
Induces insulin resistance - decreases Akt-mTOR activity