My UM
My UM
Search

The role of muscle blood vessels in healthy ageing

Research shows that the muscle blood vessel network is important for healthy ageing. There is an extensive network of blood vessels in our muscles, also known as the muscle microvasculature. Although these blood vessels are very small, they have a major influence on maintaining muscle mass in healthy older adults. This network ensures that oxygen and nutrients reach the muscle cells and largely determines how well muscles function as we age. In his doctoral thesis, Milan Betz examined how this blood vessel network affects muscle preservation in older people.

According to Milan, muscles are essential for healthy ageing for several reasons. First of all, they are important for mobility later in life. “When muscle strength declines, movement becomes more difficult, which directly affects independence and quality of life,” he explains. In addition, muscles are linked to metabolic health. “Muscles also play an important role in regulating blood glucose levels.”

Endurance versus strength training: the type matters less

The answer to the question of the best way to counteract muscle loss in older adults turned out to be more surprising than Milan had expected. He explains: “If older people train sufficiently and at high intensity, the type of exercise matters less than previously thought.” In his study, two groups of healthy men and women were formed. The first group followed an eight-week endurance training programme, while the second group did not train. After this period, both groups completed twelve weeks of strength training. The result? Both groups experienced the same amount of muscle growth. Endurance training was therefore effective in improving the blood vessel network, but these additional blood vessels did not lead to extra muscle growth during the subsequent strength training. As a possible explanation, Milan suggests that strength training itself also improved the blood vessel network.

Milan emphasised that he considers this an important finding. “The key is that older adults challenge themselves. How they do so is less decisive than previously thought.” It was already known that strength training promotes muscle blood flow and muscle growth. However, it was striking that muscle development was also observed after the period of endurance training. “Endurance athletes are usually associated with marathon runners and strength training with muscular athletes, but these results show that the distinction is less black and white,” says Milan.

 

Sauna as an alternative for limited mobility

Although exercise is crucial in later life, it is not always accessible to older people. For this reason, Milan also investigated an alternative way to stimulate blood flow in the muscles without intensive exercise. “Another way to increase heart rate is the sauna,” Milan explains. According to him, this produces almost the same increase in the number of blood vessels in the muscle as eight weeks of endurance training. Of course, visiting the sauna does not lead to an increase in muscle mass, but it still offers an interesting option for older adults with limited mobility.

Milan Betz

Milan Betz is a PhD candidate at the department of Human Biology. He is part of the M3-research group led by Prof. Luc van Loon.

Older adults with COPD

The research also focused on the muscles of older adults with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), as a less dense blood vessel network restricts the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the muscle, thereby accelerating muscle loss. Milan confirms that it is therefore especially important for people with chronic conditions to improve their blood vessel network. He believes that this patient group would benefit from further research into the muscle microvasculature.

Milan Betz’s doctoral thesis shows that muscle health in older adults does not depend on a specific type of training. Both endurance and strength training contribute to improving muscle blood flow and maintaining muscle mass. The key is challenge, not the form of training.
 

Text: Milou Scholten

Also read