Sarcopenia: Why Muscle Is the Currency of Aging

Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of muscle mass, and overtime it can significantly impact how you move, function, and feel. As muscle declines, visceral fat tends to increase, lowering your basal metabolic rate and raising your risk for chronic conditions such as inflammation, dementia, diabetes, and arthritis.

Why Muscle Matters More With Age

Around age 30, we all begin to lose muscle. As we get older, building strong, lean muscle becomes more difficult, making it increasingly valuable. Muscle keeps you strong, mobile, and active, and it plays a key role in reducing inflammation by burning excess fat. As muscle decreases with age, deep abdominal fat increases, triggering inflammatory processes linked to cardiovascular disease, dementia, and other degenerative conditions. Over time, progressive muscle loss can lead to frailty, a hallmark of aging.

Inactivity speeds up this process. After age 65, the rate of decline increases significantly. Muscle mass decreases, fat increases, and inflammation rises, creating a self-perpetuating cycle where less movement leads to more muscle loss. Chronic illness can further accelerate this decline, affecting your ability to stay independent, healthy, and vibrant. The more sedentary you are, the higher your risk for Sarcopenia.

Preventing and Reversing Muscle Loss

The good news is that muscle loss is not inevitable. Weight-bearing exercise, resistance training, and proper nutrition all help slow or reverse this trend. However, the most impactful intervention is comprehensive hormone replacement therapy. Testosterone supports muscle mass and bone health, but effective therapy requires precise testing, ongoing monitoring, and individualized adjustments.

Testosterone also doesn’t work in isolation. If not managed properly, it can convert into estrogen in men, leading to increased fat and reduced muscle. That’s why managing the full hormonal cascade is critical for optimal results.

How Longevity Medical Clinic Can Help

At Longevity Medical Clinic, we combine diet, nutrition, lifestyle changes, and comprehensive hormone replacement therapy to help prevent and reverse Sarcopenia. Talk with a Longevity physician about your risk today. If you’re not yet a patient, schedule a Complimentary Health Analysis Appointment and take the first step toward a healthier, stronger future.

‍