Brain inflammation triggers muscle weakness after infections

Research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reveals how brain inflammation triggers extreme muscle weakness across several diseases, including viral infection, bacterial infection and Alzheimer’s disease. The study, in fruit flies and mice, also identified ways to block this process, which could have implications for treating or preventing the muscle wasting sometimes associated with inflammatory diseases, including bacterial infections, Alzheimer’s disease and long COVID.

Is weakness the new smoking? Muscle strength tied to biological age, study shows

Muscle weakness marked by grip strength is associated with accelerated biological age, a new study suggests. Results were found using “age acceleration clocks” based on DNA methylation, a process that provides a molecular biomarker and estimator of the pace of aging. Researchers say this suggests potential to adopt use of grip strength as a way to screen individuals for future risk of functional decline, chronic disease and early mortality.