RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Muscle Mass, Quality, and the Menopause: Sex-specific Strategies to Mitigate Sarcopenia in Ageing Populations

This study focuses on understanding why women tend to lose muscle faster and become weaker than men as they grow older, particularly around menopause. This muscle loss can make everyday tasks difficult, like getting out of a chair. The research aims to find out how menopause impacts muscle health and how fat builds up in muscles during this time. Participants will engage in simple exercise which may help improve muscle strength and quality. Researchers will use special body scans and interviews to learn more about these changes and find better ways to keep muscles strong and healthy as women age, helping to reduce health issues and improve well-being.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Nottingham

Enrolment target

Start

29 Jul 2024

Estimated completion

01 Mar 2026

Healthy

What is this study about?

As we get older, our muscles can naturally become smaller and weaker. This can make everyday activities, like standing up or getting dressed, more challenging. This muscle loss, often called sarcopenia, is a growing concern because more people are living longer. It can put a strain on healthcare services and affect people's quality of life. Understanding how to keep muscles strong and healthy as we age is therefore very important.

This study is particularly interested in women because research suggests that women might experience muscle loss differently and sometimes earlier than men. The study believes that changes during menopause, which is a natural part of aging for women and involves changes in hormones, might play a big role in this. Hormonal changes during menopause can also lead to an increase in body fat, which can further impact muscle health.

The main goals of this project are to better understand how menopause affects muscle size and strength, and how body fat changes around muscles during this time. Researchers will use special imaging techniques, like MRI scans, to get a clear picture of these changes inside the body. They will also talk to women about how exercise can be included in their daily lives after menopause to help keep their muscles strong and improve their overall health and independence.

Key takeaways

This study investigates muscle loss in women as they age, especially around menopause.
It aims to understand why women might lose muscle faster than men.
Special scans will help researchers see changes in muscle and fat.
Participants will do muscle-strengthening exercises to see how they help.
The findings could lead to better ways to keep women's muscles strong and healthy as they age.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be a woman between 18 and 65 years old. You should be generally healthy, a non-smoker, and not regularly do strong exercise that builds muscles. Your body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of your weight in relation to your height, should be within a healthy range, specifically between 18 and 30.

There are certain health conditions that would prevent you from taking part. These include having serious heart or blood vessel problems, lung conditions like severe asthma or COPD, uncontrolled issues with your blood sugar (like untreated diabetes), or certain long-term illnesses that affect your metabolism, kidneys, or immune system. You also can't have been diagnosed with cancer in the last five years, or be taking certain medications like steroids or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) currently or recently, as these can affect the study results.

Additionally, if you have conditions that would make an MRI scan unsafe, or skin allergies to common medical plasters, you wouldn't be able to participate. If you've been in another research study involving medical procedures in the last three months, or if your periods have stopped for a reason other than menopause, you also wouldn't be eligible. The researchers want to make sure the study includes women who are healthy enough for the activities involved and who will provide clear results relevant to menopause and muscle health.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a woman between 18 and 65 years old?
Do you not regularly perform strong muscle-building exercises?
Do you have a healthy weight with a BMI between 18 and 30?
Are you generally healthy and do not have serious heart, lung, or metabolic conditions?
Are you not currently or recently taking certain hormone medications (like HRT) or steroids?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you'll be asked to visit the research facility for several appointments over a period that will be explained to you. You will undergo various assessments to measure your muscle health and body composition, including special MRI scans which can look at your muscles. You will also have some blood tests and muscle biopsies (small tissue samples) taken. The study will involve a programme of simple muscle-strengthening exercises using one arm. You will be asked about your daily routines and how you might fit exercise into your life. The research team will guide you through each step and ensure you understand everything involved.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer you benefits by understanding more about your own muscle health and how exercise can help. Your involvement will also significantly contribute to scientific knowledge about women's health and ageing, which could lead to better ways to help other women in the future. Potential risks are generally low but could include minor pain or bruising from blood tests or muscle biopsies, and the usual discomfort associated with MRI scans. The exercise programme is designed to be safe, but as with any exercise, there's a small risk of muscle soreness or minor injury. You are always free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Queens Medical Centre Campus
Verified postcode
Nottingham, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is sarcopenia?

Sarcopenia is the natural loss of muscle size and strength that can happen as people get older, making everyday tasks difficult.

Why is this study only for women?

The study focuses on women because research suggests that muscle loss can happen differently and sometimes earlier in women, especially around the time of menopause.

What is unique about the exercise in this study?

The study uses a specific program of muscle-strengthening exercises involving only one arm, to understand how it affects muscle changes.

Will I have to take any medication?

No, this study does not involve taking any new medications. It focuses on exercise and understanding natural body changes.

How long will I be involved in the study?

The total duration of your participation, including visits and follow-ups, will be clearly explained to you by the research team before you join.

How to find out more

Matthew Brook

matthew.brook@nottingham.ac.uk 0115 8230248 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.