Approved Research

What is the role of sarcopenia, sarcopenia indices, and sarcopenia risk factors in Alzheimer's disease and cardiometabolic multimorbidity?

Lay summary

Heart failure is a condition, making the main pumping chambers of the heart, called ventricles, stiff between beats that may cause difficulties. This may lead to decreased oxygen uptake and the ability to exercise and be physically active, especially during older age. The age-related muscle mass and strength loss, also known as sarcopenia, is one of the main characteristics of patients with heart failure. A recent study showed a very high prevalence of sarcopenia in heart failure patients (36% on average), indicating that this patient group is at risk of diminished quality of life and daily activities. Scientists that have used magnetic resonance imaging scans have observed a decline of specific type of muscle fibres in heart failure patients, that are responsible for muscle contraction and force. Scientists have also noticed an increased fat deposition in the muscles of heart failure patients, which is linked to a higher prevalence of other conditions such as insulin resistance. These skeletal muscle changes may also result in increased markers of inflammation and reduce mitochondrial function in the skeletal muscle -the power of the cells-, and potentially lead to reduced muscle force production. These changes may form a new entity, termed cardiometabolic comorbidity.

Furthermore, dementia is a major problem during ageing, particularly Alzheimer's disease that may exacerbate dependency and lower quality of life. Research has shown a link between sarcopenia and dementia disorders, which may be explained through dysregulation of neuroinflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms. This muscle-brain crosstalk may lead to parallel decreases in muscle and cognitive function, adding further physiological burden in ageing groups. In this study, we intend to explore the association between markers of sarcopenia with Alzheimer's disease and cardiometabolic comorbidity, which will provide us with very important information as we will know what risks muscle strength and physical performance declines may possess regarding Alzheimer's and cardiometabolic comorbidity incidence. The outcomes of this study will help clinicians and healthcare professionals target those deficiencies and design interventions that will support these patient groups with their treatment, progressing their recovery and improving their overall quality of life.