How muscle fatigue affects walking in older adults
Official title: Muscle Fatigue and its Impact on Mobility Function in Aging
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-10662460 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tired muscles affect the ability to move around in older adults, especially those over 65, to find ways to help them walk better and enjoy life more.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2019 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $482,621 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG058607-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10662460 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above who experience mobility issues or increased muscle fatigue.
✕Less likely to help
Patients under 65 years of age or those without mobility dysfunction may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between muscle fatigue and mobility function in older adults, particularly those over 65 years of age. It aims to understand how impaired energy production in muscle cells contributes to increased fatigue during activities like walking. By using advanced imaging techniques, the study will explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind muscle fatigue and its impact on mobility. The ultimate goal is to identify ways to improve mobility and quality of life for older individuals experiencing these issues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for enhancing mobility and reducing fatigue in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding muscle fatigue mechanisms can lead to significant improvements in mobility for older adults, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kent, Jane a — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Kent, Jane a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how muscle fatigue affects walking in older adults
This study is looking at how tired muscles affect walking and moving around in older adults, with the goal of finding ways to help them walk better and feel less fatigued.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Telehealth exercise program to help rural breast cancer survivors fight fatigue
A telehealth exercise program is being tested to reduce cancer-related fatigue in rural breast cancer survivors.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.