Sarcopenia,an age-related disease caused by the imbalance in protein synthesis and degradation,can result in significant decreases in skeletal muscle mass and strength.Skeletal muscle loss during aging is inevitable and can affect the life quality of the elderly.Moreover,it may increase the risks of other age-related diseases in the elderly.However,the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear in age-related skeletal muscle loss.Autophagy is a degradation pathway for the removal of dysfunctional organelles and damaged macromolecules during aging.Mitochondria also play a key role in skeletal muscle function.To maintain skeletal muscle mass,we should pay attention to autophagy and improve mitochondrial homeostasis through autophagy or other means.This paper summarizes the research progress of autophagy and mitochondrial quality control in sarcopenia,aiming to provide reference for exploring new therapies.
Keywords: autophagy; mitochondria; sarcopenia.