Why do our muscles get weaker with age – and can we do something about it?

Why do our muscles get weaker with age -and can we do something about it? Mitochondrial biologyAs we get older, our muscles get weaker -a phenomenon known as sarcopenia.The causes of this muscular degeneration are not well understood, although research suggests that functional decline in our mitochondria may be a key factor.At Wake Forest University School of Medicine in the US, Dr Bumsoo Ahn is studying exercise training and a hormone that has the potential to counteract sarcopenia by improving mitochondrial function.The goal of his lab is to slow the ageing process, allowing people to stay healthy for longer.