A Different Type of ‘Muscle Memory’
Repeated exercise, or wasting, can change the way key genes work.
TL;DR
- Muscles have molecular mechanisms for remembering exercise, leading to faster rebuilding of muscle mass and strength.
- New research shows muscles also remember wasting; repeated atrophy increases susceptibility to further muscle loss.
- Epigenetic changes occur with repeated disuse, affecting mitochondrial function and energy production genes.
- Young muscle demonstrates resilience and better recovery from repeated atrophy compared to aged muscle.
- Epigenetic memories in muscle can last at least three to four months, and potentially longer after severe health events like cancer.
- Understanding these memory mechanisms could lead to therapies for age-related muscle weakness and strategies to offset the negative effects of illness and immobilization.
- Strength training combined with endurance or high-intensity interval training is considered the best therapy against age-related muscle loss.