Overview

• Muscle cells have intrinsic circadian clocks that regulate protein turnover, critical for preserving muscle integrity and function.
• Disruption of these clocks, as seen in shift work, accelerates muscle aging by impairing nocturnal clearance of defective proteins.
• Zebrafish models with dysfunctional muscle clocks displayed premature aging symptoms, providing insights into the biological mechanisms of sarcopenia.
• Approximately four million UK shift workers face increased risks of accelerated muscle decline due to chronic circadian misalignment.
• Preclinical drug trials are underway to explore therapies targeting muscle clocks, aiming to prevent or mitigate muscle aging in shift workers.