According to a report by Physicist Organization Network on the 3rd, a new study presented at the annual meeting of the North American Society of Radiology shows that skeletal muscle loss is a risk factor for developing dementia. Skeletal muscle accounts for about one-third of the total weight of the human body. They are connected to bones and help people complete various movements. However, as people age, their skeletal muscles also begin to slowly lose. Due to the frequent age-related skeletal muscle loss in elderly people with dementia, research teams from institutions such as Johns Hopkins University in the United States have begun to explore whether skeletal muscle loss is associated with an increased risk of dementia. In the latest study, they quantified temporal muscle changes in 621 non dementia participants (average age 77 years) using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination results from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative cohort. The temporalis muscle is located in the head and is responsible for moving the lower jaw. Research has shown that the thickness and area of the temporalis muscle can serve as indicators of overall muscle loss. The research team used MRI images to calculate the total cross-sectional area (CSA) of each participant's temporal muscle and divided them into a large CSA group and a small CSA group. They then recorded the incidence rate of dementia, changes in cognitive ability, and changes in brain volume in these participants. The results showed that smaller temporal muscle CSA was associated with a higher risk of dementia. After adjusting for other known risk factors, older adults with smaller skeletal muscles are approximately 60% more likely to develop dementia. The research team believes that using brain MRI for early detection can timely detect signs of muscle loss and take corresponding intervention measures to prevent or slow down muscle loss, thereby reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. These measures include strengthening physical exercise, conducting resistance training, and providing nutritional support. (New Society)