Type 2 diabetes and accelerated ageing in skeletal muscle

The pursuit for the elixir of eternal youth has fascinated scientists for centuries. Yet, natural ageing
—marked by the gradual decline of biological, physiological, psychological, and behavioural
processes over a lifespan— is widely accepted as one of life’s unfortunate, but inevitable facts.
Although some age-related changes are innocuous (e.g., greying hair), others increase the
susceptibility of chronic disease or disability. However, not all of these outcomes are necessarily
intrinsic to ageing itself. For instance, the presence of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and
obesity can accelerate the ageing process in multiple organs (e.g., brain, heart, liver and kidneys),
leading to gradual losses in physiological integrity and reduced muscle function.