Age related weight loss can be a major problem amongst the elderly. While the loss of muscle mass might be inevitable as we get older, there are several things you can do to help combat this problem. Exercise is important, especially activities that promote resistance training. Lifting weights is a prime example of this. You might not have easy access to a gym, so knowing what else you can do to mimic this type of exercise is important. You can hold soup cans in your hands while you walk in place, or you can get a resistance band and do arm and leg exercises with that. Basically, resistance exercise is pretty easy to do if you use a little bit of creativity.

Science has recently discovered a method of making muscles young again. One big factor in age related weight loss is that muscles begin to lose the ability to repair themselves. Muscle repair is an important part of weight training; when you exert your muscles, they are breaking down a little bit and muscle is gained when the muscle rebuilds itself.

Stem cells within muscles are responsible for the rebuilding process. When a muscle breaks down, otherwise dormant stem cells divide themselves and contribute toward building new muscle fibers. Some of these stem cells then go back to being dormant to await the next time a rebuild becomes necessary. This is the process by which young adults build muscle and gain strength. However, as we age, the number of dormant stem cells within our muscles begins to decline. This naturally makes the rebuilding process much more difficult.

The study looked at muscle within older lab mice. They found that there were high levels of a protein within older mice. This protein contributes toward encouraging stem cells to divide. If stem cells are continuously being activated when we get older, there is less potential for those stem cells to go toward the purpose of rebuilding muscles.

Scientists hope that by inhibiting this protein's presence within the body, stem cell reserves can remain potent and plentiful. If this were the case, it would be much easier for elderly folk to put on muscle. This would be a huge step forward toward slowing down the aging process on a cellular level.

Muscle mass helps keep us strong, helps maintain balance, and decreases the likelihood of any injury. If elderly folk were able to keep better care of their musculature, many falls could be prevented. Continuing to build and maintain muscle as we get older is an important part of keeping our bodies functioning at the highest level. Stem cell therapy might be just what is needed to keep older folk healthy in this regard.