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#Biology #Medicine #Fitness & Nutrition
MIT
MIT
2d ago 13 views

How do our bodies remember?

Recent research reveals that muscles have a memory for movement and exercise, which is crucial for muscle growth and recovery. This understanding can enhance training and rehabilitation strategies.
How do our bodies remember?
A What happened
Recent studies have unveiled that muscles have an intrinsic memory related to exercise, termed epigenetic muscle memory. This phenomenon allows muscle cells to retain a memory of previous physical activity, enhancing their ability to grow and recover after periods of inactivity. Research led by Adam Sharples has shown that skeletal muscle cells can undergo epigenetic changes that facilitate muscle growth, even after long breaks from exercise. Interestingly, younger muscles tend to recover effectively from atrophy, while older muscles display a more negative memory, making them more vulnerable to further loss. This understanding of muscle memory has significant implications for training regimens and rehabilitation strategies, particularly for aging populations and individuals recovering from illness. The ability to reset epigenetic profiles through exercise highlights the potential for positive muscle memories to counteract negative ones, suggesting that consistent physical activity can lead to lasting benefits.

Key insights

  • 1

    Muscle memory explained

    Muscles retain memory of exercise through epigenetic changes.

  • 2

    Impact of aging on muscle

    Younger muscles recover better from atrophy than older muscles.

  • 3

    Resetting muscle profiles

    Exercise can help reset negative epigenetic profiles in muscles.

Takeaways

Understanding muscle memory through epigenetic changes offers valuable insights into training and rehabilitation, emphasizing the importance of consistent exercise for maintaining muscle health across the lifespan.

Read the full article on MIT