Journal article

Sarcopenia and the Common Mental Disorders: a Potential Regulatory Role of Skeletal Muscle on Brain Function?

JA Pasco, LJ Williams, FN Jacka, N Stupka, SL Brennan-Olsen, KL Holloway, M Berk

Current Osteoporosis Reports | Published : 2015

Abstract

While it is understood that body composition impacts on physical conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, it is only now apparent that body composition might play a role in the genesis of common mental disorders, depression and anxiety. Sarcopenia occurs in ageing and comprises a progressive decline in muscle mass, strength and function, leading to frailty, decreased independence and poorer quality of life. This review presents an emerging body of evidence to support the hypothesis that shared pathophysiological pathways for sarcopenia and the common mental disorders constitute links between skeletal muscle and brain function. Contracting skeletal muscle secretes neurotrophic..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by National Institutes of Health


Funding Acknowledgements

LJW is supported by a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (1064272); FNJ is supported by a postgraduate scholarship from the Australian Rotary Health Fund and a Postdoctoral Training Fellowship from the NHMRC; SLB-O is supported by an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship; MB is supported by a NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship. These funding organisations played no role in the preparation, review and approval of the manuscript.