Muscle multiomics in young and older adults before and after acute exercise
In an abstract, older adults showed lower baseline expression of cellular respiration and energy metabolism genes than young adults with similar activity; about half of these age-related differences were absent in trained older adults, whose profiles resembled young adults'. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Muscle was analyzed with transcriptomics, lipidomics and metabolomics in young and older adults with differing physical function, before and after acute submaximal exercise. [1]
At baseline, older adults had lower expression of cellular respiration and energy metabolism genes than young adults with comparable activity; 50% of these differences were absent in trained older adults. [1]
All participants showed transcriptional immune and stress responses to acute exercise, and in older adults the magnitude correlated positively with physical fitness. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Abstract of a human skeletal muscle multiomics study
- Population / context
- Young and older adults with differing physical function, including trained older adults
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- July 3, 2026
Muscle samples from young and older adults
The abstract describes transcriptomics, lipidomics and metabolomics of skeletal muscle from young and older adults with differing physical function. Samples were taken before and after an acute bout of submaximal exercise. The stated aim was to examine how exercise mitigates age-related molecular changes and how fitness level shapes exercise responses. The abstract does not report sample size, age ranges or how training status was defined.
Supporting source [1]
Baseline gene expression and trained older adults
At baseline, older adults showed reduced expression of genes linked to cellular respiration and energy metabolism compared with young adults of comparable activity levels. In trained older adults, 50% of these age-related differences were absent, giving profiles resembling those of young adults. All participants showed transcriptional immune and stress responses to acute exercise; in older adults the magnitude of these responses correlated positively with physical fitness. Integrated analyses linked mitochondrial respiration, lipid metabolism, stress responses and NAD biology. These are associations in muscle samples, not proof that training causes these profiles or extends lifespan.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope of the muscle findings
The findings are presented as demonstrating that sustained physical training transforms age-related molecular profiles and as providing a molecular atlas for studying fitness-dependent aging mechanisms. However, this explainer is based only on the abstract; the full text was not reviewed. Design details, participant numbers, follow-up and statistical uncertainty are not reported here, so the strength and generalizability of the associations remain unclear.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Sample size, age ranges, training definitions, follow-up and statistical uncertainty are not reported, and the described associations do not establish causation or human lifespan effects.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Janssens GE, Trętowicz MM, Grevendonk L, Kotte M, Scantlebery A, Schomakers BV, van Weeghel M, Hermans J, Vervaart MAT, Wever EJM, Denis SW, Jongejan A, Salomons GS, Vaz FM, Schrauwen P, Hoeks J, Houtkooper RH. · europepmc.org · July 3, 2026