As populations age, the prevalence of sarcopenia-;a progressive loss of muscle mass and function-;has become an increasingly urgent public health concern. Sarcopenia increases the risk of falls and frailty, reduces the quality of life for older adults, and heightens the likelihood of requiring long-term care. Preventing sarcopenia is, therefore, crucial for alleviating this healthcare burden.
A pioneering study conducted by researchers from Juntendo University in Japan sheds light on this issue. The research group comprising researcher Abulaiti Abudurezake at the Sportology Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, along with Assistant Professor Saori Kakehi and Professor Yoshifumi Tamura from the Department of Sports Medicine and Sportology, investigated the relationship between masseter muscle volume (MMV) and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older. Their aim was to clarify the relationship between MMV and sarcopenia, as well as to compare the determinants of MMV and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) to explore early detection methods.
Their findings were made available online on 14 October 2024 and was published in Volume 56, Issue 1 of the Archives of Medical Research on 1 January 2025. The study involved a comprehensive analysis of MMV and its association with sarcopenia among older individuals. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure MMV, the study examined various influencing factors, including BMI or body.
