Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. On average, humans begin to lose muscle mass around the age of 50 and it will continue throughout their lifespan. Sarcopenia affects everyone from former elite athletes to people with sedentary lifestyles, albeit to varying degrees and can increase the risks of falls, disabilities, frailty, and death.
The molecular mechanisms underlying sarcopenia are largely unknown, although researchers have identified some pathways associated with it. I am interested in identifying the key signaling pathway modulation(s) that precede the phenotypic findings of sarcopenia. Additionally, I am interested in identifying compounds that will affect the onset and/or progression of sarcopenia.
