MUSCLE AGING AND INFLAMMATION

Human ageing is associated with a significant decline in neuromuscular function and performance (Doherty et al, 1993a, Ross et al, 1997 and Vandervoort, 2002). The term sarcopenia was first used by Rosenberg (Rosenberg, 1989), to describe age associated loss of skeletal muscle mass. Sarcopenia is now generally used to describe age-associated changes that occur within skeletal muscle and thus include the effects of altered central and peripheral nervous system innervation, altered hormonal status, altered caloric and protein intake and inflammatory effects. All these contribute to sarcopenia and to the characteristic skeletal muscle atrophy and weakness, which are considered major contributing factors to the loss of functional mobility, independence and frailty present in many elderly (Roubenoff and Hughes, 2000; Roubenoff et al. 2001). Because our society is an ageing one, understanding the underlying mechanisms of sarcopenia is essential for the development of effective interventions to prevent disability and optimize quality of life in older people. This review will focus on the potential role of inflammatory factors in sarcopenia and on the effects of exercise interventions