A new study published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that levels of testosterone in men is linked to lesser declines in muscle mass as they age.The researchers studied nearly 1,200 men ages 65 and older in a 4.5 year span. Through a series of testing including grip strength, lower extremity power and walk speed, they found that sex steroids help the muscle mass stay intact rather than diminish with age.
"The amount of testosterone men have in their bodies may contribute to how much muscle and strength they lose as they get older," said lead author Dr. Erin LeBlanc. "Our study adds evidence to the growing body of literature that suggest higher levels of endogenous testosterone may be favorably associated with some key components of healthy aging in men."
Baby boomers who are looking to keep up with their active lifestyle may want to educate themselves on this topic, as loss of muscle mass and strength can cause frailty in men and heighten the risk of falling.
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