Muscle memory…does it exist?
New research suggests that human muscles have a memory of earlier growth.
Skeletal muscle growth is remembered by the genes in the muscle, assisting them to grow larger later. This can potentially help training athletes and recovering from injuries.
Adam Sharples, the author of the study, claims “If an athlete’s muscle grows, and then they get injured and lose some muscle, it may help their later recovery if we know the genes responsible for muscle ‘memory.”
Researchers used genome techniques to study mark and unmark muscle growth after exercise, having it go back to normal after then growing again later in life.
These markers allow the gene to be active or inactive permitting the gene to turn on or off without changing DNA itself.
This study has revealed that genes in muscle become more marked after exercising early in life. These genes continue to be marked even when we lose muscle.
It is quite possible that this research can be used for athletes caught with performance enhancing drugs that could create long lasting changes.
If an athlete is caught using performance enhancing drugs and given a ban. A short ban may not be sufficient due to the fact it be advantageous that they have taken drug earlier in life which will mark their genes to grow later in life.
For additional information please visit Business Standard.
Questions: How would you utilize this knowledge in your life and what recommendations could you make to others? What actions should be taken on athletes using performance-enhancing drugs?
