Several studies associate the loss of muscle mass and functionality after the age of 60, called sarcopenia, with loss of cognition and increased risk of dementia. But that month, a study showed that not only the amount of muscle is important, but also it is quality.
That month, the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society published a study of 1600 people over 70 years who were followed for several years. This study demonstrated that the more fatty the muscle infiltrates, the greater the chance of cognitive loss. This data again shows the importance of a healthy lifestyle to prevent disease.
Muscle health depends on a balanced diet and regular physical activity. It is very common for people over 60 to reduce protein consumption in their main meals, which can lead to a greater-than-expected loss of muscle mass for their age. Protein is necessary for a series of reactions, such as the production of immune system cells; when we don't consume it properly, our body begins to remove it from the muscle, reducing muscle fibers, whose space can be occupied by fat.
In addition, regular practice of physical activity is necessary to reduce this loss due to age. Decreasing fat infiltration in our muscles and maintaining the proper number of muscle fibers.
It's never too late to start a healthy lifestyle, but the sooner we start this journey, the better our aging will be and with less risk of diseases, including dementia.
Think about it and seek professional guidance!
Link: https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jgs.18419