Sarcopenia, or the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, affects as many as 70% of adults over age 60, and continues to progress such that the estimated skeletal muscle mass of a typical 80-year-old is roughly 60% of that of their 20s. Additionally, senile skeletal muscle displays increased stiffness which can have numerous effects on health, physical function and independence. There is, therefore, a critical need for accurate, non-invasive techniques to quantify passive skeletal muscle stiffness. The long term goal of this project is to develop effective diagnostic strategies and interventions that will improve the physical functioning and independence of older adults. The objectives of this application, progressing towards the long-term goal, are to develop and validate a non-invasive method to quantify muscle stiffness, and to non-invasively assess the stiffness of skeletal muscle in both young and older adults. The central hypothesis is that novel, non-invasive ultrasound technology will be a reliable, valid technique to evaluate the passive stiffness of skeletal muscle throughout its functional range of motion. The rationale for the proposed research is that understanding the changes in skeletal muscle passive stiffness associated with aging may provide a basis for development of effective diagnostic and treatment procedures.
Two specific aims will be pursued to objectively test the hypothesis. First, a non-invasive method will be developed and validated for assessing passive skeletal muscle stiffness throughout the physiologic range of tension. Second, the muscle stiffness changes with sarcopenia in humans will be quantified. The expected outcomes of the work proposed include developing the non-invasive methodology to understand the impact of aging and sarcopenia on passive properties of skeletal muscle. This contribution will be significant because it is the firs step towards developing effective diagnostic strategies and treatment interventions that will improve the diagnosis, assessment and prevention of sarcopenia progression and limited musculoskeletal function.

Public Health Relevance

The onset of sarcopenia, or the age-related loss of muscle mass, is typically in the 6th decade and continues to progress such that the estimated skeletal muscle mass of a typical 80-year-old is roughly 60% of that of their 20s. Additionally, senile skeletal muscle also displays increased stiffness which can have numerous effects on health, physical function and independence. This project is relevant to public health because it investigates a novel, non-invasive ultrasound technology to monitor real-time skeletal muscle stiffness that will facilitate the development of effective diagnostic techniques and treatment options for sarcopenia and musculoskeletal disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (ADAMHA) (F30)
Project #
1F30AG044075-01A1
Application #
8594968
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F10B-S (20))
Program Officer
Joseph, Lyndon
Project Start
2013-09-30
Project End
2017-09-29
Budget Start
2013-09-30
Budget End
2014-09-29
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$40,932
Indirect Cost
Name
Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Department
Type
DUNS #
006471700
City
Rochester
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55905
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Brandenburg, Joline E; Eby, Sarah F; Song, Pengfei et al. (2015) Feasibility and reliability of quantifying passive muscle stiffness in young children by using shear wave ultrasound elastography. J Ultrasound Med 34:663-70
Brandenburg, Joline E; Eby, Sarah F; Song, Pengfei et al. (2014) Ultrasound elastography: the new frontier in direct measurement of muscle stiffness. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 95:2207-19