In jaw-dropping news, loss of muscle mass—also known as sarcopenia—is one of the main risk factors for dementia, according to a new study. The finding, done by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, is of the belief that one particular jaw muscle can indicate skeletal muscle mass throughout the body.

According to researchers, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking are already among the known risk factors for dementia—a general term for a group of neurological conditions that affect the brain and worsen over time. Across the world, over 55 million people are affected by the condition.

This new study harps on how sarcopenia—an age-related progressive loss of muscle mass and strength—can be one of the main causes of cognitive decline. “We found that older adults with smaller skeletal muscles are about 60% more likely to develop dementia when adjusted for other known risk factors,” said neurology professor Marilyn Albert, the study’s senior author.

Researchers said skeletal muscles comprise about one-third of our body weight, and losing muscle mass is a natural part of ageing. However, after 30 years, people typically start to lose as much as 3-5 per cent of their muscle mass every decade.

How does sarcopenia lead to muscle loss?

According to experts, sarcopenia is estimated to affect 10-16 per cent of the world’s elderly population. Even though sarcopenia’s link to cognitive decline is not exactly clear, researchers speculate it may be due to myokines.

Skeletal muscles produce and release small proteins and peptides known as myokines that directly influence your brain. Less muscle mass means fewer myokines are released. Also, people with sarcopenia mostly do less exercise and workouts and participate in fewer social activities—two major risk factors for dementia.

According to Johns Hopkins’ team of scientists, they focused more on the temporalis muscles on the side of the head for their study. The large, fan-shaped muscle is used to close the mouth when chewing. The researchers say that features of this jaw muscle, like its thickness and size, can paint a picture of muscle mass within the body.

Researchers examined brain images of over 600 dementia-free older adults to determine how much muscle loss they had suffered. The participants were tracked for around six years to see if they got diagnosed with dementia or experienced brain or cognition changes.

Most had smaller temporalis muscles, which researchers tied to a higher risk of dementia, as well as greater decreases in cognitive test scores and brain size compared to those with larger temporalis muscles.

Doctors say early detection of dementia helps with treatment options, which include physical activity like resistance training, healthy eating, and socializing. Eating more protein is also essential for building muscle. “These interventions may help prevent or slow down muscle loss and subsequently reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia,” said Dr. Shadpour Demehri, co-senior study author and professor of radiology.

Dementia entails a decline in mental function from a previously higher level that is severe enough to interfere with daily living. A person with dementia has two or more of these specific difficulties, including a decline in:

Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Health and around the world.