The discovery could lead to treatments that may
help frail elderly reclaim some of their strength.
Image: iStockphoto

A group of drugs known for their effects in treating asthma may help reverse muscle wasting and weakness in the ageing, according to University of Melbourne research.

The research could lead to therapeutic strategies to slow the effects of ageing on muscle function and restore muscle size and strength in frail elderly people.

Findings from the research, by Dr James Ryall of the University’s Department of Physiology, has led to a definitive review in one of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals, Physiological Reviews.

Dr Ryall focused on a group of drugs called beta-agonists, better known for their effects in treating asthma but which can also have powerful effects on skeletal muscles, specifically improving muscle growth and strength.

His research, for a PhD, showed that under some circumstances beta-agonists could actually reverse muscle wasting and weakness in aged rats – which experience age-related muscle changes similar to those seen in humans.

Head of Physiology’s Basic & Clinical Myology Laboratory, Professor Gordon Lynch, who supervised Dr Ryall’s work, describes his research as a significant contribution to understanding ageing and its effects on skeletal muscle.

“Age-related muscle wasting, and an associated weakness called sarcopenia, affects everyone and does not discriminate based on ethnicity, gender, or wealth,” says Professor Lynch.

“The size and strength of our muscles can decline to such an extent that it becomes difficult to perform even the simplest activities of everyday living.

We may no longer, for instance, be able to get up from a chair, walk up a flight of stairs, or even maintain the ability to feed and take care of ourselves,” he says.

“Muscle wasting can deprive a person of functional independence and increase their risk of falls and fractures. It is one of ageing’s most serious consequences.”

Professor Lynch sees a profound need for therapeutic strategies that can slow the effects of ageing on muscle function, restore muscle size and strength and help to maintain or even improve quality of life.

”While the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying sarcopenia have yet to be identified, they are likely to be highly complex and involve multiple different signalling pathways, presenting numerous targets for novel drug discovery,” he says.