Identifying metabolic biomarkers of skeletal muscle wasting in sarcopenia and cachexia

When muscle is lost in ageing and disease, clinical outcomes are significantly impacted since loss of muscle mass impairs not only locomotory function but also whole-body metabolic health. Indeed the relationship between low muscle mass and increased morbidity and mortality outcomes in ageing and cachectic diseases are extremely robust. Early identification of those at risk of greatest musculoskeletal (MSK) decline is important to ensure optimal interventional strategies can be implemented to prevent and/or delay muscle wasting in these individuals, thereby maintaining MSK health for longer and preventing related co- morbidities. This studentship proposes to identify metabolic signatures of MSK decline in both healthy ageing (sarcopenia) and disease (cachexia), so that at risk individuals can be stratified accordingly. Not only will these signatures allow us to identify those at greatest risk of MSK decline, but disturbances in metabolic phenotypes between healthy and diseased, in addition to between young and old, could potentially uncover underlying mechanisms involved in wasting and hence potential therapeutic or drug targets (for future translational funding) which could be used to normalise this metabolic disturbance and improve skeletal muscle function and hence quality of life.