Overview
- Researchers analyzed 61,290 UK Biobank MRI exams to build 3D statistical models of the gluteus maximus.
- In participants with type 2 diabetes, men showed localized muscle shrinkage, while women showed apparent enlargement likely reflecting fat infiltration.
- Muscle morphology correlated with lifestyle and aging, with higher fitness linked to a more robust shape and aging, frailty, and prolonged sitting linked to thinning.
- Focusing on regional shape rather than overall size or fat content revealed differences that conventional muscle measurements can miss.
- The University of Westminster team will present the findings at RSNA, and the proposed clinical uses for early detection and monitoring remain provisional until peer reviewed.