Aberdeen scientists have found a gene which could play a role in determining a person’s muscle mass – which is linked to health factors including how long someone lives.
Previous studies have highlighted a link between muscle mass and life expectancy in elderly people.
Now scientists at Aberdeen University, led by Arimantas Lionikas, have identified a gene that appears to affect muscle mass in mice.
The findings have been published in Nature Genetics.
Muscle is the most abundant tissue in the body and enables us to do many things from moving around to breathing.
The amount of skeletal muscle mass each person has can vary significantly.
It can be increased if a person undertakes strength exercise but genetic factors play just as important a role in determining how much muscle mass a person has.
The same gene identified by the team has previously been linked with the spread of cancer and drugs have been developed to target it.
It is now hoped they can now move their research forward by studying these drugs to gain a further understanding of their effects on muscle tissue.
Dr Lionikas, said: “Skeletal muscle mass is incredibly important in humans, especially as they get older.
“We have already seen in older adults that statistically, those with lower muscle mass are more likely to die at a younger age.
“Our research suggests this gene could play a role in regulating muscle mass and the fact that drugs have already been developed to target the gene gives us an obvious focus for further research.”
