Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Skeletal muscle is needed for adaptation to exercise and plays a central role in regulating whole-body energy homeostasis. The progressive age associated loss of skeletal muscle mass and function often referred to as sarcopenia has a negative impact on the ability to perform daily activities and to perform exercise. Comorbidities of age-related sarcopenia include osteoporosis, metabolic syndromes, obesity and diabetes, loss of physical function and independence. In Canada, sarcopenia is thought to affect 30% of individuals over 60 years of age and more than 50% of people over 80 years. Recent estimates indicated that approximately 40% of the older Canadians are affected by sarcopenia. Maintaining the independence and physical function not only preserve the quality of life of older individuals but will also save billions of dollars in health care costs. Therefore, improving our understanding of the endocrine and molecular mechanisms regulating muscle mass and function is critical. Bone is another organ of the body severely affected during the aging process. Recent studies suggest that bone may be a determinant of organismal aging through the function of osteocalcin (OCN), a bone-derived hormone. OCN favours functions such as glucose homeostasis, male fertility, brain development and cognitive functions. The level of circulating OCN declines sharply with aging, raising the prospect that OCN is necessary to maintain physiological functions of the body. Moreover, OCN level has been found to be increased in human following aerobic exercise. As a result, elucidating potential involvement of OCN in regulating muscle mass and function will be an interesting frontier of research. The ultimate goal of the project may lead to identify novel mechanisms in treatment of sarcopenia and age related complications.