Integrating Eastern and Western Interventions for Improving Aging Skeletal Muscle Health: Mechanistic Exploration and Clinical Translation Focused on Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function with aging, is a key driver of frailty, falls, disability, and loss of independence. Western approaches—such as resistance exercise, protein and amino acid supplementation, vitamin D, and emerging pharmacological agents—have shown benefit, but many older adults experience incomplete or variable responses. In parallel, Eastern medical practices, including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbal formulas, acupuncture, and movement-based practices such as tai chi and qigong, have been used to support physical function and vitality, yet their mechanisms and integration with Western strategies remain underexplored.This research topic focuses on mechanistic and translational studies that combine Eastern and Western interventions to improve skeletal muscle health in older adults, with sarcopenia as the central clinical target. Mechanistic work may examine how integrated interventions influence key pathways in muscle aging, including muscle protein synthesis and breakdown (mTOR, AMPK, autophagy, ubiquitin–proteasome), mitochondrial function and oxidative stress, neuromuscular junction integrity, chronic low-grade inflammation, and endocrine or metabolic regulation. In vitro models, animal studies of muscle aging, and multi-omics approaches (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbiome) are encouraged to clarify synergistic or antagonistic effects between modalities.On the clinical side, the topic welcomes randomized controlled trials and pragmatic studies that compare Western standard-of-care (for example, resistance training plus optimized protein intake) with or without adjunctive Eastern interventions such as TCM herbal formulas, acupuncture, or tai chi/qigong. Outcomes of interest include muscle mass and quality (DXA, CT, or MRI), strength and performance (handgrip, chair rise, gait speed, balance), validated sarcopenia criteria, and patient-centered measures such as quality of life, falls, functional independence, and treatment adherence.Submissions that address safety, herb–drug interactions, feasibility in multimorbid older populations, and cultural or patient preference factors are particularly relevant. Work that develops integrative care models, clinical decision pathways, or implementation strategies for geriatric and rehabilitation settings is also welcome. By bringing together basic, translational, and clinical research, this topic aims to build a rigorous evidence base for integrative, culturally sensitive, and mechanistically informed strategies to prevent and treat sarcopenia in aging populations. Topic editors: Lei Fang, Gabriel S Bassi, WEIAN YUAN Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76606/integrating-eastern-and-western-interventions-for-improving-aging-skeletal-muscle-health-mechanistic-exploration-and-clinical-translation-focused-on-sarcopenia