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The Intricacies of mTOR Signaling in Aging and Muscle Health
mTOR signaling plays a crucial role in aging, particularly affecting diabetes and obesity-related conditions, as its overexpression can lead to cellular dysfunction and accelerated aging. There exists a dilemma between preserving muscle strength and preventing sarcopenia while managing mTOR's activity. mTOR acts as a gatekeeper for growth, making environmental assessments to decide whether to promote growth or to activate stress resistance. Research on laboratory animals suggests that reducing mTOR signaling may slow aging and extend lifespan; however, the direct applicability of these findings to humans remains uncertain. Understanding mTOR as a dial—rather than a simple on-off switch—highlights its complex regulation across different tissues. While muscle function relies on mTOR signaling, its role in the brain is also significant and varies by tissue, making navigation of protein intake and resistance training a nuanced challenge for maintaining health with age.