Understanding Muscle Loss in Older Adults
Official title: Determinants and Outcomes of Age-related Muscle Loss
Funded at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged · NIH-11126782 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores why older adults lose muscle as they age and how that affects their health, including the risk of falls and fractures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $631,107 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG065265-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126782 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this type of research would be older adults interested in contributing to our understanding of age-related muscle changes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing age-related muscle loss or its complications may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This project aims to better understand why older adults lose muscle mass and what health problems this can cause, such as falls and bone fractures. Researchers will use a special urine test to accurately measure total muscle mass in thousands of older adults. They will then look for connections between muscle mass, genetic factors, and lifestyle choices like diet and physical activity. This work will help us learn more about the causes and effects of muscle loss in later life, potentially leading to new ways to keep older adults healthy and active.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better strategies for preventing muscle loss, falls, and fractures in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: While the D3-creatine dilution method offers a more accurate assessment, previous research has explored links between muscle mass, genetics, and physical outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kiel, Douglas P. — Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
- Study coordinator: Kiel, Douglas P.
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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.