Background

Understanding Muscle Atrophy and Its Broader Impacts

Muscle atrophy, the loss of muscle mass and strength, is a pervasive issue that affects various populations, from the elderly to astronauts and even gym enthusiasts who misuse steroids. This webpage aims to shed light on the causes, consequences, and challenges associated with muscle atrophy across these groups.

Muscle Atrophy in the Elderly

As people age, the risk of muscle atrophy increases significantly due to a condition called sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is characterized by the gradual loss of muscle mass and function, often starting in the mid-40s and accelerating after the age of 60. The primary drivers of muscle atrophy in the elderly include:

Reduced Physical Activity: Many older adults lead less active lifestyles, contributing to muscle loss.

Hormonal Changes: A decline in hormones like testosterone and growth hormone exacerbates muscle breakdown.

Nutritional Deficiencies: Inadequate protein intake and other dietary deficiencies hinder muscle maintenance.

Chronic Diseases: Conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and arthritis further accelerate muscle loss.

Schematic illustration of the Sarcopenia risk factors

The consequences of muscle atrophy in the elderly are severe. Reduced muscle mass leads to frailty, a higher risk of falls and fractures, loss of independence, and diminished quality of life. Addressing this issue requires a combination of resistance training, proper nutrition, and medical interventions tailored to individual needs.

This plot and his statistics were generated integrating informations from different published datasets: Naruse et al., 2023, Lexell et al., 1988, Joseph et al., 2012

Muscle Atrophy in Astronauts

Astronauts face unique challenges due to the microgravity environment of space, which rapidly accelerates muscle atrophy. In space, the lack of gravitational forces eliminates the need for muscles to support body weight, leading to:

Muscle Deconditioning: Rapid loss of muscle mass and strength, particularly in the lower body and core.

Decreased Bone Density: Coupled with muscle loss, astronauts experience reduced bone strength, increasing the risk of fractures.

To mitigate these effects, astronauts engage in rigorous exercise routines aboard spacecraft, using resistance machines like the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED). However, muscle loss remains a significant concern for long-term space missions, such as those to Mars, where extended exposure to microgravity poses a serious challenge.

This plot and his statistics were generated integrating informations from different published datasets: Arentson-Lantz et al., 2016, Strollo et al., 2018, Tesch et al., 2004

Steroid Misuse in Gym Enthusiasts

While muscle atrophy is a problem of loss, some gym enthusiasts go to the opposite extreme, misusing anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass. While these substances can temporarily boost muscle growth, they pose severe risks to health, including:

Liver Toxicity: Many anabolic steroids are hepatotoxic and can lead to liver damage or failure.

Cardiovascular Issues: Steroid use increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.

Hormonal Imbalances: Misuse disrupts natural hormone production, leading to conditions like gynecomastia (enlarged breast tissue in men) and infertility.

Psychological Effects: Steroid abuse can lead to mood swings, aggression, and even dependency.

The desire for rapid muscle growth can drive individuals to ignore these risks, leading to long-term health consequences. Public awareness and education on the dangers of steroid misuse are critical to reducing its prevalence.

This plot and his statistics were generated integrating informations from different published datasets: Yesalis et al., 1997, Rasmussen et al., 2016, McCabe et al., 2007, Kanayama et al., 2001, Nilsson et al., 2001

Overall, muscle atrophy and its associated challenges, whether caused by aging, unique environments like space, or unhealthy practices like steroid misuse, highlight the importance of understanding and addressing muscle health. By promoting physical activity, balanced nutrition, and responsible choices, we can combat muscle atrophy and safeguard overall well-being across these diverse populations.

Here we aim to use our proprietary symbiotic therapy system to treat mice and NHP models of muscle atrophy. In particular the symbiotic particles injected under host skin will release over time an improved version of Follistatin as therapeutic agent at low and constant rates that will mediate the signaling of muscle growth, increasing host muscle mass.