Biology of Ageing Program
The two most common age-associated musculoskeletal conditions are osteoporosis (loss of bone) and sarcopenia (loss of muscle), which lead to pain and weakness of the musculoskeletal system.
Sarcopenia is considered ‘primary’ (or age-related) when no other cause is evident, while sarcopenia is considered ‘secondary’ when additional factors to ageing are evident, such as physical inactivity, injury or additional confounding diseases.
Sarcopenia leads to frailty, loss of mobility, an increased risk of falls/fractures, a diminished quality of life, and in some cases premature mortality. 3.7 million people in Australia are currently over 65 years old, with projections suggesting this number will more than double to ~8.7 million by 2050. It has been estimated that ~30% of those aged 75-84 suffer from sarcopenia, indicating that ~330,000 people in Australia would currently be considered sarcopenic, with this number predicted to exceed 780,000 by 2050. It is currently unknown why our musculoskeletal system gets weaker as we age, and what biological cues dictate the rate and severity of this transition.
Research in the Biology of Ageing Program aims to understand the factors that cause age-associated muscle weakness to develop therapeutics to prevent sarcopenia. A fundamental cellular process thought to be involved in this problem is the development of mitochondrial dysfunction, which leads to a reduction in energy production in our cells.
Recent research suggests that skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction may be causal in the development of sarcopenia. Dr Philp’s current research, supported by the NHMRC, Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation and MitoRx, is investigating whether pharmacological approaches to increase mitochondrial activity in skeletal muscle can be used for the treatment and prevention of sarcopenia.
Australian
Deakin University
Garvan Institute
Monash University
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Swinburne University
University of Melbourne
University of New South Wales
University of Sydney
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
International
AdventHealth Research Institute, USA
Dundee University, UK
Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Sweden
University College of London, UK
University of Birmingham, UK
University of California San Diego, USA
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
University of Exeter, UK
University of Leicester, UK
University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Research in the Biology of Ageing Program aims to understand the factors that cause age-associated muscle weakness to develop therapeutics to prevent sarcopenia. A fundamental cellular process thought to be involved in this problem is the development of mitochondrial dysfunction, which leads to a reduction in energy production in our cells.
Recent research suggests that skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction may be causal in the development of sarcopenia. Dr Philp’s current research, supported by the NHMRC, Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation and MitoRx, is investigating whether pharmacological approaches to increase mitochondrial activity in skeletal muscle can be used for the treatment and prevention of sarcopenia.
Australian
Deakin University
Garvan Institute
Monash University
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Swinburne University
University of Melbourne
University of New South Wales
University of Sydney
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
International
AdventHealth Research Institute, USA
Dundee University, UK
Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Sweden
University College of London, UK
University of Birmingham, UK
University of California San Diego, USA
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
University of Exeter, UK
University of Leicester, UK
University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
