What statements about muscle mass and aging is accurate?

What statements about muscle mass and aging is accurate?

• A. Exercise can slow the loss of muscle mass.
• B. Increasing protein and fat intake will increase muscle mass.
• C. Muscle mass declines by 40% between ages 30 and 70.
• D. There is little that can be done to reduce the loss of muscle mass.

Answer: (A)

Regular exercise, especially resistance training, slows aging-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) by boosting muscle protein synthesis, preserving fiber size and neural activation, and maintaining strength and function. While adequate protein supports repair, simply increasing protein and fat intake without a stimulus to build muscle does not reliably increase muscle mass. The amount of muscle lost with aging varies and isn’t a fixed 40% decline for everyone, so the idea that little can be done is not accurate. With consistent activity and proper nutrition, the rate of muscle loss can be reduced, making exercise the most effective way to preserve muscle as we age.

Regular exercise, especially resistance training, slows aging-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) by boosting muscle protein synthesis, preserving fiber size and neural activation, and maintaining strength and function. While adequate protein supports repair, simply increasing protein and fat intake without a stimulus to build muscle does not reliably increase muscle mass. The amount of muscle lost with aging varies and isn’t a fixed 40% decline for everyone, so the idea that little can be done is not accurate. With consistent activity and proper nutrition, the rate of muscle loss can be reduced, making exercise the most effective way to preserve muscle as we age.