Understanding how aging and exercise affect fat within muscles
Official title: Effects of aging and exercise training on intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) in MoTrPAC
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11115647 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how fat marbled within our muscles changes with age and exercise, and how it might contribute to conditions like type 2 diabetes and muscle weakness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $660,365 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG077956-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11115647 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for older adults concerned about age-related muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass, or the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing age-related muscle changes or type 2 diabetes may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
We are exploring how fat found within skeletal muscles, called IMAT, might lead to decreased muscle sensitivity to insulin and muscle loss as we get older. Our goal is to understand if aging causes IMAT to release certain substances that harm muscle health, and if exercise can help reduce these harmful effects. By clarifying these connections, we hope to find new ways to improve muscle mass, strength, and insulin sensitivity in older adults. This work could help develop better strategies to prevent or manage age-related type 2 diabetes and sarcopenia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new interventions that modify muscle fat to improve muscle health and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and sarcopenia in older individuals.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of IMAT in age-related conditions is recognized, this specific focus on fibronectin and myostatin secretion and cellular composition represents a novel approach to understanding its mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bergman, Bryan C — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Bergman, Bryan C
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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.