Muscle wasting and mental health outcomes – a review of the evidence
Sarcopenia and the Common Mental Disorders: a Potential Regulatory Role of Skeletal Muscle on Brain Function?
Title | Sarcopenia and the Common Mental Disorders: a Potential Regulatory Role of Skeletal Muscle on Brain Function? |
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Authors | Pasco et al., |
Journal | Current Osteoporosis Reports |
Impact Factor | 2.7 |
Web Link | Click here |
Year | 2015 |
Why they did it?
As we age our muscles become smaller and weaker, a condition known as sarcopenia. Research has shown that sarcopenia leads to an increased risk of poor functional status (i.e. a limited ability to perform activities of daily living) and poor musculoskeletal/cardiometabolic health. There have been recent studies to show that sarcopenia may also affect mental health and increases the risk of common mental disorders (e.g. depression, anxiety). However, little is known about the physiological mechanisms involved with sarcopenia and its relation to mental disorders. This aim of this review article was to provide an overview of the current scientific literature examining the effects of sarcopenia on mental health-related outcomes.
How they did it?
In this narrative review, the authors searched several online data-bases such as; Medline, PubMed, SPORTSDISCUSS, PsychInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane and PsycARTICLES. Studies were included if they had a validated measure of muscle mass and mental health. For this review, we will describe the main findings of the paper. Click on the web link above for the complete article. Articles reviewed included several study designs, ranging from community-based exercise interventions and population-level observational studies, to controlled laboratory-based experimental studies.
What they found?
There is data emerging from large epidemiological studies to suggest that low levels of muscle mass/sarcopenia is associated with poor mental health outcomes, such as an increased risk of developing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Possible physiological mechanisms for this relationship included the fact that low muscle mass is associated with low levels of a key brain derived called neurotrophins, which are important for mood enhancement and feelings of wellbeing. Moreover, low levels of muscle mass can lead to increase levels of inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, both of which have downstream effects on negative mood states. Importantly, the current literature suggests that strength training is the key lifestyle modification in preventing and treating sarcopenia. Indeed, when compared to the use of medications and dietary supplements, strength training had a greater effect in increase muscle mass and importantly less side effects.
Ok, what does this mean to me?
This review article is important because, while it has been well established that sarcopenia is related to poor musculoskeletal/cardiometabolic health, it showed that low levels of muscle mass are also linked to poor mental health outcomes. Moreover, this review suggested that regular strength training is effective in attenuating the loss and preservation of muscle mass. Fitness professionals should make clients and the general public aware of the multiple health benefits of regular participation in strength training. The current public health guidelines recommend that an adult should do 2 or more strength training sessions a week involving large muscle groups (e.g. legs, chest, back and shoulders).
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