Myosteatosis: Epidemiological Insights, Functional Decline, and Diagnostic Advances.

Yan Zhang, Yunju Jo, Shibo Wei, Yeongmin Kim, Wonyoung Park, Seung-Jun Jeong, Yingqi Xue, Sung Hyun Lee, Beom-Jun Kim, Chang-Myung Oh, Karim Gariani, Dongryeol Ryu

Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Myosteatosis, defined as the pathological accumulation of fat within skeletal muscle, has emerged as a critical yet underrecognized feature of muscle aging and metabolic dysregulation. Despite its growing clinical relevance, the field remains constrained by fragmented definitions, heterogeneous diagnostic criteria, and limited mechanistic understanding, all of which hamper effective detection and intervention. This review synthesizes current evidence to delineate the epidemiological landscape and clinical ramifications of myosteatosis across organ systems, and to highlight emerging myokine-driven endocrine signaling, biomarker candidates, and diagnostic strategies.

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Research summary

The paper claims that myosteatosis is a critical feature of muscle aging that impacts metabolic health. The relevance lies in its focus on understanding myosteatosis as a pathological condition associated with aging, which could inform interventions aimed at improving longevity and addressing age-related metabolic decline.

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