Research
Mixed
Neural factors, including motor unit remodeling, reduced voluntary activation, and cortical changes, significantly contribute to muscle weakness and reduced performance in the elderly, independent of muscle mass loss.
Resistance training may not only build muscle but also improve neural drive and motor unit recruitment, helping to maintain strength and function in older age.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
There is clear evidence that alterations in nervous system form and function contribute to declines in skeletal muscle impairment with age, namely diminished motor coordination, muscle strength, and power.
Why this rating
Supported by numerous studies on motor unit behavior, cortical excitability, and voluntary activation in older adults.
Source
Skeletal muscle performance and ageing
Michael Tieland et al. · Journal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle · 2017
DOI 10.1002/jcsm.12238
narrative_reviewCited 877×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Age-related decline in skeletal muscle performance is driven by multifactorial mechanisms beyond sarcopenia, including excitation-contraction uncoupling, motor unit remodeling, and neural factors, which collectively reduce muscle quality and physical function.Good
- Excitation-contraction (E-C) uncoupling, specifically involving reduced SR Ca2+ release and reuptake, contributes significantly to the reduction in muscle quality and force production in aging skeletal muscle.Good
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