Researchers identify strength ‘genes’ in first of its kind study
Using data from studies involving close to 200,000 from the UK and other countries, scientists for the first time identified common genetic factors that influence muscle strength in humans. The result could prove to be helpful in finding new treatments for muscle weakness.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge led a study that identified sixteen common genetic variants associated with muscle strength. According to a press release, many of these variants were located within or near to genes known to play a role in biological processes highly relevant to muscle function, including the structure and function of muscle fibres, and the communication of the nervous system with muscle cells.
The researchers were then able to investigate the hypothesised causal link between strength and these adverse health outcomes. While they didn’t find any evidence of higher risk of death or cardiovascular disease caused by lower strenght, the scienstists did find proof that higher muscular strength reduces risk of fracture, thus offering support on the use of strength training interventions as a method to reduce risk of fractures.
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“While we have long suspected a role for genetics in the variation in muscle strength, these findings give the first insights into some of the specific genetic variants that underpin variation in strength. These could be important steps towards identifying new treatments to prevent or treat muscle weakness,” Dr Robert Scott, who co-led the study with colleagues from the MRC Epidemiology Unit, said.
Hand grip strength has been reported to be associated with many health outcomes, including risk of mortality, cardiovascular disease, and fracture – although it has been unclear whether variation in strength actually causes these outcomes, or simply reflects underlying disease processes.
The researchers used data on hand grip strength from more than 140,000 participants in the UK Biobank study, combined with 50,000 additional individuals from the UK, Netherlands, Denmark and Australia.
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