Recognizing muscle health in healthy aging and non-communicable disease policy: a public health perspective

Resumo

Population aging and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) place sustained pressure on health systems. In this perspective, I argue that muscle health—muscle mass, strength, and physical function—should be recognized as an explicit and prognostically distinct target within policies for healthy aging and NCD prevention. Two arguments distinguish this from generic physical activity promotion: muscle strength predicts mortality, regardless of activity level, and the most significant gains are produced by resistance and multicomponent training rather than by aerobic activity alone. I summarize randomized evidence, including trials with follow-up to 36 months, highlighting that the benefits are more pronounced among individuals with demonstrable functional impairment—a finding that strengthens, rather than weakens, the policy case. I identify three recurring policy gaps: the limited use of feasible assessment tools in primary care, fragmented prevention efforts that under-prioritize resistance training, and the near absence of functional capacity in global NCD frameworks. Drawing on experiences from Japan, Europe, North America, and Brazil, I propose five operational priorities and examine the practical constraints on delivery—equipment, financing, workforce, cultural barriers, and long-term adherence—alongside the limits of the economic evidence, so that policy ambition is matched to the strength of the data.

Tipo

Artigo

Área

Saúde

Ano

2026

Idioma

Inglês

Licença

CC BY

DOI

10.3389/fpubh.2026.1913349

Como citar (ABNT)

PUELLES-DIAZ, Alvaro. Recognizing muscle health in healthy aging and non-communicable disease policy: a public health perspective. Frontiers in Public Health, v. 14, 2026. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1913349.