Sexual dimorphism in human muscle ageing
Abstract
Primary sarcopenia is a common geriatric syndrome characterised by age-related decline in muscle strength, mass, and quality, which is associated with reduced quality of life and a significant social burden. We report results from an analysis of arm muscle ageing on 478,438 UK Biobank participants aged 40-82 yr. A clear sexual dimorphism was identified: while the sex difference in age-related strength decline was modest, muscle mass loss was considerably more pronounced in males, both in absolute and percentage terms. We also introduce a novel measure of muscle quality, which showed substantially greater age-related decline in females. These trends held across cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, and persisted after accounting for systematic size differences between the sexes. Furthermore, sex differences were apparent irrespective of female menopause status or HRT usage history. Our findings will inform the ongoing debate around the definition and diagnosis of sarcopenia, and prompt consideration of sex-specific interventions.
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Research summary
The paper addresses sexual dimorphism in muscle aging, which is a significant aspect of primary sarcopenia, a condition related to aging. While it provides valuable insights into the differences in muscle mass and quality decline between sexes, the findings primarily contribute to understanding the condition rather than addressing the root causes of aging or proposing interventions that could extend lifespan. Thus, it represents solid research but with limited impact on the broader field of longevity research.
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