The aim of the ATIMA (Adipose Tissue Inflammation and the regulation of Muscle in Ageing) project is to work out if fat inflammation is a cause of muscle loss and weakness as people get older and, if so, which cells in fat tissue are responsible for producing the inflammation.

We hope that this project will pave the way for new strategies and treatments to maintain muscle mass and strength and prevent frailty with ageing, thus helping help people to stay active and independent for longer.

Background information

Muscle mass and strength are critical aspects of healthy ageing. Many people experience muscle loss as they get older, which can lead to muscle weakness and (in some people) can eventually lead to frailty and loss of independence.

A key factor that leads to age-related muscle loss and weakness is a raised level of inflammatory molecules in the body – but the main cause of this inflammation has always been uncertain.

Our body fat produces hundreds of molecules that can affect our health. Our work demonstrates that adipose tissue becomes inflamed and produces large amounts of inflammatory molecules in some older people.

We found that the production of some of these molecules predicts whether people have less muscle. Based on these findings, we believe that fat tissue is a major source of inflammation in ageing in some people, and that when fat tissue is inflamed, it negatively affects the ability to maintain normal amounts of muscle.

Research study

We hope to start recruitment for this research study in February 2025. Some details may change

We will recruit volunteers aged between 20-30 years old and 65-75 years old to take part in a research study to gather data.

All volunteers will be asked to make two visits to the University of Bath, with an additional visit to the University of Exeter for those in the 65-75 group.

Across these visits, the project team will take a series of body measurements. These will include:

• muscle and fat levels
• levels of fat tissue inflammation
• blood sugar
• cognitive function

The project team will also monitor volunteers' diet, physical activity and sleep.

The visit to Exeter will include a resistance exercise protocol to assess muscle protein metabolism.

Team members

This project benefits from the skills and expertise of researchers from the University of Bath, the University of Exeter and the University of Birmingham.

Bath members

• Isabelle Franco
• Dr Francoise Koumanov
• Dr Harry Smith
• Professor Dylan Thompson

Other institution members

• Professor Leigh Breen, University of Birmingham
• Professor Francis Stephens, University of Exeter
• Dr James Turner, University of Birmingham
• Professor Ben Wall, University of Exeter