Cornerstone of healthy ageing: preserving skeletal muscle to delay age-related musculoskeletal disease and maintain functional independence

The global population is ageing at an unprecedented rate. For the first time in the human race, adults over the age of 65 are predicted to outnumber children under the age of 15 by 2050.1 This population paradigm carries significant implications for musculoskeletal health, as age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and function—sarcopenia—is recognised as a major contributor to increasing morbidity, mortality and loss of functional independence in the ageing population.2 Therefore, investigations to preserve skeletal muscle integrity are not merely cosmetic or reserved for high-level athletes—they are essential to preserve health, prevent disability and delay the onset of osteoporosis (OP), osteoarthritis (OA) and other degenerative musculoskeletal diseases. This editorial highlights the essential role and physiological mechanisms of how preserving skeletal muscle is the foundation of healthy ageing and functional independence.