Disrupting Your Muscle’s Internal Clock Can Lead to Muscle Loss - AI Podcast
Story at-a-glance
- Skeletal muscles have their own circadian clocks that regulate daily cycles of growth, repair, energy production, and protein turnover
- A recent study found that disabling these peripheral clocks in the muscles caused premature aging, reduced strength, slower movement, and other signs consistent with sarcopenia
- These findings help explain why shift workers often experience early muscle decline, as disrupted rhythms interfere with the body’s natural overnight repair processes
- Light is the most powerful timing cue for your internal clocks, with morning sunlight helping anchor circadian rhythms and exposure to blue light at night disrupting melatonin and recovery
- Meal timing and consistent sleep schedules also help reinforce muscle clock function and support long-term strength and resilience
Activity