Musculoskeletal system in the old age and the demand for healthy ageing biomarkers Sebastiano Collino a, *, Franc ¸ois-Pierre Martin a , Leonidas G. Karagounis b , Marie Noelle Horcajada b , Sofia Moco c , Claudio Franceschi d , Martin Kussmann a,e,f , Elizabeth Offord b a Nestle ´ Institute of Health Sciences, Molecular Biomarkers, EPFL Innovation park, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland b Nestle ´ Research Center, Nutrition and Health, Vers-chez-les-Blanc, CH-1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland c Nestle ´ Institute of Health Sciences, Natural Bioactives and Screening, EPFL Innovation park, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland d Interdepartmental Centre ‘‘L. Galvani’’ CIG, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy e Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fe ´de ´rale Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland f Faculty of Science, Interdisciplinary NanoScience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark 1. Introduction Ageing can commonly be characterized as a progressive, generalized impairment of biological functions resulting in an increased vulnerability to environmental challenge and a higher risk of disease and death (Kirkwood, 2005). Despite the enormous complexity of the ageing process, involving combinations of many biological and physiological variables, a small number of basic molecular mechanisms underpin the ageing process, involving a set of highly conserved mechanisms. One of the key mechanisms of the ageing process is the development of a chronic, low grade, inflammatory status named inflammageing and this condition has emerged as critical in the onset of the pathogenesis of major age-related chronic diseases (Fig. 1) such as atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and neurodegeneration (Franceschi, 2007). Inflammage- ing plays a pivotal role in the most important geriatric conditions, such as sarcopenia, frailty, osteoporosis, and disability, thus contributing to elderly morbidity and mortality. Interestingly, a variety of tissue, organs (brain, liver), immune system contribute to the onset and progression of such a systemic inflammatory state. Musculoskeletal ageing is characterized by decline in bone (osteoporosis) and muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia), increased joint pain and stiffness, reduced physical mobility, increased risk of falls and fractures. Physical functionality or mobility is a core indicator of healthy ageing in the elderly population (Milaneschi et al., 2010). Skeletal muscle loss is a major contributor to the frailty syndrome of ageing and can lead to reduced mobility and increased disability among older adults. Metabolic phenotyping (metabolomics) offer a powerful new means for discovering molecular biomarkers and metabolic A R T I C L E I N F O Article history: Received 10 May 2013 Received in revised form 24 October 2013 Accepted 11 November 2013 Available online xxx Keywords: Ageing Metabolomics Bone Muscle Longevity A B S T R A C T Population ageing has emerged as a major demographic trend worldwide due to improved health and longevity. This global ageing phenomenon will have a major impact on health-care systems worldwide due to increased morbidity and greater needs for hospitalization/institutionalization. As the ageing population increases worldwide, there is an increasing awareness not only of increased longevity but also of the importance of ‘‘healthy ageing’’ and ‘‘quality of life’’. Yet, the age related chronic inflammation is believed to be pathogenic with regards to its contribution to frailty and degenerative disorders. In particular, the frailty syndrome is increasingly being considered as a key risk indicator of adverse health outcomes. In addition, elderly may be also prone to be resistant to anabolic stimuli which is likely a key factor in the loss of skeletal muscle mass with ageing. Vital to understand these key biological processes is the development of biological markers, through system biology approaches, aiding at strategies for tailored therapeutic and personalized nutritional program. Overall aim is to prevent or attenuate decline of key physiological functions required to live an active, independent life. This review focus on core indicators of health and functions in older adults, where nutrition and tailored personalized programs could exhibit preventive roles, and where the aid of metabolomics technologies are increasingly displaying potential in revealing key molecular mechanisms/targets linked to specific ageing and/or healthy ageing processes. ß 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. Tel.: +41 216326161. E-mail address: sebastiano.collino@rd.nestle.com (S. Collino). Mechanisms of Ageing and Development jo ur n al ho mep ag e: www .elsevier .c om /lo cate/m ec hag ed ev 0047-6374/$ – see front matter ß 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2013.11.003