Age-associated Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Skeletal Muscle: Contributing Factors and Suggestions for Long-term Interventions

It has been established that the impairment of mitochondrial function is associated with various disorders, such as type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, mitochondria have been implicated in the progression of cellular aging through a multitude of studies that connect increased mitochondrial dysfunction, such as increased reactive oxygen species production and decreased ATP synthesis, with skeletal muscle undergoing sarcopenia. Studies reveal an inverse relationship between mitochondrial biogenesis and aging such that as an individual increases in age, mitochondrial function, and content decreases. This review aims to summarize the relationship of mitochondria with skeletal muscle function, the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, and the alterations in skeletal muscle and mitochondrial function that result due to the aging process. (C) 2009 IUBMB