Dr Josh Bennett led on the publication of Rheumatoid sarcopenia: loss of skeletal muscle strength and mass in rheumatoid arthritis with a supervisory team across several of the Newcastle BRC’s themes, including Professor Avan Aihie Sayer, Professor John Isaacs, and Dr Arthur Pratt.
Dr Bennett is a paediatric rheumatology registrar at Newcastle Hospitals, and a clinical research associate. He said:
“People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are disproportionately affected by poor muscle strength for several reasons. They have high levels of systemic inflammation through disease, and in general they’re less physically active than people of the same age. “At the moment the best we can do for people with rheumatoid sarcopenia is recommend exercise, as this is the most effective intervention for improving both strength and muscle mass. However, many people with RA struggle to do exercise, particularly if they are affected by joint damage.”
“People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are disproportionately affected by poor muscle strength for several reasons. They have high levels of systemic inflammation through disease, and in general they’re less physically active than people of the same age.
“At the moment the best we can do for people with rheumatoid sarcopenia is recommend exercise, as this is the most effective intervention for improving both strength and muscle mass. However, many people with RA struggle to do exercise, particularly if they are affected by joint damage.”
Dr Bennett is working on the Rheumatoid Arthritis and Muscle (RAMUS) study – which investigates whether muscle health improves following treatment with the drug tofacitinib for RA.
Identifying a potential pharmacological treatment for sarcopenia could have important implications for individuals with RA and for older people in general.
Josh adds:
“We’ve just closed a clinical study looking at whether the drug tofacitinib can help reverse muscle loss for RA patients.” “Our participants underwent two muscle biopsies and I’m planning to spend the next year analysing this tissue. Hopefully the findings will show why people with RA are so prone to sarcopenia.”
“We’ve just closed a clinical study looking at whether the drug tofacitinib can help reverse muscle loss for RA patients.”
“Our participants underwent two muscle biopsies and I’m planning to spend the next year analysing this tissue. Hopefully the findings will show why people with RA are so prone to sarcopenia.”
Find out more about the RAMUS study
Read the full Nature Rheum article: Rheumatoid sarcopenia: loss of skeletal muscle strength and mass in rheumatoid arthritis
[Josh’s laboratory research is funded by Pfizer, the BMA Foundation, the JGW Patterson Foundation and The Newcastle Hospitals Charity]