NARI Seminars in Ageing: Associations between female sex hormones and skeletal muscle ageing

NARI Seminars in Ageing: Associations between female sex hormones and skeletal muscle ageing

by National Ageing Research Institute

Life & Natural Systems Medicine & Health MFKHHuman growth and developmentMFKH3Maturation and ageing
🎙 National Ageing Research Institute 👥 604 📅 June 12, 2026 ⏱ 59 min 👁 60 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-16
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

skeletal muscleestrogenprogesteronetestosteroneageing

Summary

This seminar, presented by Professor Séverine Lamon, explores the associations between female sex hormones and skeletal muscle ageing. It begins by highlighting the importance of skeletal muscle for healthy ageing and the pervasive decline in muscle mass and function with age. The talk emphasizes that males and females age differently at the muscle level, with females having lower muscle mass, lower protein intake, and experiencing menopause-related hormonal changes. Professor Lamon discusses the molecular basis of sex differences, noting that skeletal muscle is a highly sex-biased tissue with thousands of differentially expressed genes. She then focuses on the role of ovarian hormones, estrogen and progesterone, and their receptors in muscle. The presentation reviews evidence from epidemiological studies, such as the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, showing that higher estrogen levels are associated with better muscle mass in older women, independent of age. However, no such association was found for muscle function. The talk also addresses the controversial role of testosterone in female muscle, concluding that total testosterone is not predictive of muscle mass or strength in women. Professor Lamon describes her own cohort studies (FAME and MALE) and emphasizes the need for sex-specific research to understand muscle ageing. She concludes by advocating for more inclusive research practices and policy changes, such as the NHMRC statement on sex and gender in research.

220 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The presentation provides valuable insights into the understudied area of female sex hormones and skeletal muscle ageing. It synthesizes existing literature and presents new data from the speaker’s own research, including epidemiological and intervention studies. The argumentation is solid, with clear reasoning and acknowledgment of limitations. The speaker effectively challenges assumptions about testosterone’s role in female muscle and highlights the importance of considering sex differences in research. The use of examples, such as the mixed relay video, helps illustrate functional differences. However, some claims are based on pilot data or unpublished work, and the presentation does not delve deeply into mechanistic pathways.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The seminar demonstrates scientific rigor through the use of established cohorts, appropriate statistical adjustments, and transparent discussion of study limitations. The speaker cites her own published work and references key papers, such as the Lancet study on disease prevalence and the NHMRC policy change. The title accurately reflects the content. The presentation is well-structured and evidence-based, though it is a seminar talk rather than a peer-reviewed article. The speaker’s expertise and active role in policy development add credibility. No comments were provided for analysis.

201 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on the associations between female sex hormones and skeletal muscle ageing.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

Presentation by a recognized expert in the field, based on her own research and published studies, with transparent discussion of limitations and evidence gaps. However, it is a seminar talk, not a peer-reviewed publication, and some claims are based on pilot data or unpublished work.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • The Conversation article on why males are the default in medical research — Referenced as a piece written by the speaker on the topic of sex bias in research.
  • Lancet paper on sex differences in disease prevalence — Cited to illustrate that no disease is sex-agnostic.
  • NHMRC statement on sex, gender, and sexual orientation — Mentioned as a policy change resulting from advocacy efforts.

Concurring Sources

Contribution & Novelties

This seminar provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on female sex hormones and skeletal muscle ageing, highlighting the scarcity of research and the need for sex-specific studies. It presents novel findings from the speaker’s own research, including the lack of association between testosterone and muscle mass in females, and the independent association between estrogen and muscle mass in older women. The talk emphasizes the importance of considering sex as a biological variable and advocates for policy changes to promote inclusive research.

Pour aller plus loin :

130 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in information quantity, quality, and reliability, with a slightly lower technical level, indicating a well-balanced and accessible presentation for a scientific audience.

Reliability 8/10