While a gradual loss in muscle strength is a natural part of aging, for many older adults it’s more than just feeling a little weaker. Sarcopenia — a condition affecting nearly half of adults over 80 — involves a sharp decline in muscle size and strength, increasing the risk of falls and fractures, impacting overall health, life expectancy and quality of life.

Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have identified a game-changing solution. Their recent study suggests that a small molecule drug that targets a specific serotonin receptor could become the first neurotherapeutic treatment for sarcopenia — offering hope for older adults struggling to stay strong.

A new Penn Nursing study published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society challenges conventional thought regarding the benefits of continuity in nursing care within intensive care units (ICUs). The researchers found that increased nurse continuity was not associated with a reduction in in-hospital mortality – in some shifts, it was even linked to a modest but statistically significant increase in mortality.