Do past exercise habits influence skeletal muscle function in older adults? Focus on exercise modalities and implementation periods.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K23261
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0909:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: Tabata Hiroki 順天堂大学, 大学院医学研究科, 博士研究員 (50876886)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: サルコペニア / 骨格筋機能 / 骨格筋量 / 筋力 / 運動歴 / 青年期

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the relationship between past (adolescent) and current (elderly) exercise habits and skeletal muscle function in old age to elucidate the effectiveness of exercise history in maintaining skeletal muscle function, including skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength.
Older adults who had exercise habits during adolescence, leading to enhanced peak skeletal muscle function, and old age, mitigating its decline, exhibited higher skeletal muscle function compared to those without exercise habits in both periods, thereby suggesting a potential reduction in the risk of sarcopenia, particularly in men. Moreover, the findings implied that older women who engaged in resistance exercise during adolescence might have higher grip strength and walking speed in old age compared to their counterparts who did not have exercise habits during adolescence.

Free Research Field

応用健康科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果として骨格筋機能のピークを高める青年期および低下を抑える高齢期の両時期での運動実施が高齢期の骨格筋機能の維持に有効であり、特に男性においてはサルコペニアのリスクと関連する可能性が示された。
これまで、サルコペニアの予防策は骨格筋機能の顕著な低下が始まる50歳以降の中高年者に対する運動施策に焦点が当てられてきた。しかし、本研究は高齢期の骨格筋機能の維持およびサルコペニアの予防には、中高年期からだけではなく、青年期の運動実施により骨格筋機能のピークを高めることが有用である可能性を示唆しており、今後の我が国の介護予防施策の確立に資する重要な知見である。