Muscle wasting, or muscle atrophy, is the loss of muscle tissue. Muscle wasting is described in two categories. One type of muscle wasting is caused by physical inactivity--simply not using the muscles enough. The other, more serious type of muscle wasting is called neurogenic apathy, a result of injuries or diseases that affect the nerves' ability to control muscles. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, examples of injury or diseases causing neurogenic apathy include spinal chord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome and muscular dystrophy.
Physical Inactivity
Not stimulating your muscles with enough exercise to maintain muscle tissue causes the muscle to atrophy. While a slight amount of muscle loss is expected with age, people with desk jobs, conditions that prohibit movement, or an inactive lifestyle also experience muscle wasting. Muscle wasting resulting from physical inactivity can be reversed with strength training exercises and proper nutrition.
Spinal Cord Injuries
While the severity of spinal cord injuries may vary, any spinal cord injury can damage nerves and cause lack of movement and muscle control in the body, resulting in muscle wasting. According to MayoClinic.com, motor vehicle accidents, acts of violence, and falls account for 80 percent of the spinal cord injuries that occur each year. Men ages 16 to 30 are at greatest risk of suffering spinal cord injury.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
The National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke defines amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as a progressive and fatal disease that attacks the nerves that control voluntary muscles. As nerves lose the ability to communicate with muscles, the muscles weaken, twitch, move involuntarily, eventually stop working and waste away. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that 10 percent of ALS cases are genetic, and the disease effects 1 out of every 100,000 people.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Guillain-Barre syndrome causes the body's immune system to attack the nerves in the body, a condition known as demyelination. Demyelination causes the muscles to weaken and eventually atrophy. Guillain-Barre syndrome can occur at any age and tends to accompany other illnesses, such as AIDS or mononucleosis. Medline Plus reports that there is no cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome, however treatment can lessen complications and assist in recovery.
Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy, a group of genetic muscle conditions that damage the muscle fibers of voluntary muscles, results in muscle wasting. MayoClinic.com reports that muscular dystrophy causes the body's muscle tissue to be replaced by fat and connective tissue. Many forms of MD exist, and signs and symptoms, age of onset, and muscles affected vary. Muscular dystrophy is incurable, but treatment can slow its progress.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Muscle atrophy - overview
- Healthline: Muscle atrophy Information
- MayoClinic.com: Spinal cord injury
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Information Page
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - overview
