"Skeletal Muscle – The Backbone to Health" by Dr Alan Hayes

Details:

Date  : 24 September 2010 (Friday)

Time : 2.45pm - 4.00pm

Venue: DKA, Sports Centre (New Building), University Malaya

The talk is free and open to all.

Dr. Hayes’ talk is entitled “Skeletal Muscle – The Backbone to Health”. Skeletal muscle is a vital organ for the long term health of an individual. Much more than simply providing the energy and force for movement, skeletal muscle helps maintain a normal body weight, is a source of amino acids to fuel the immune system and is even an endocrine organ.

Damaging effects on skeletal muscle can lead to some of the most destructive human diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and has been shown to be a key contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with a number of diseases, such as heart failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cancer, and now obesity and diabetes.

Fortunately, skeletal muscle displays an incredible plasticity and ability to adapt to changes in use. The damaging effects observed through injury and aging can be delayed and reversed. The use of exercise and naturally occurring compounds as potential therapeutic options are preferable to pharmacologic agents.

Dr Alan Hayes

Dr Hayes is a muscle and exercise physiologist with over 15 years of research experience. The current Head of the Exercise Metabolism Unit, he is an active member of Victoria University’s new Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL). With a particular interest in skeletal muscle function, his current focus is on the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass and/or improved function in muscular dystrophy, recovery from muscle injury, and the debilitating effects of obesity and aging.

Please e-mail thataini@um.edu.my if you're interested to attend.