Scientists have found that changes in the shape of the gluteus maximus muscle can signal hidden health problems, including osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes. This is reported by Newsweek, citing a study that will be presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
The research team used a new anatomical mapping method to process a large number of MRI images. Based on more than 61,000 images from the British Biobank, the team created three-dimensional models of the gluteus maximus muscle and analyzed its structural features.
The data showed distinct differences in muscle shape depending on the patients' health status. In men with type 2 diabetes, the researchers recorded a decrease in muscle mass and local concave deformations - signs of early atrophy. In women with diabetes, on the contrary, an increase in muscle volume was observed, which is likely due to greater fat deposition inside or between muscle fibers.
“These are two completely different scenarios of the same disease,” said study author Marjola Tanay. She emphasized that such differences cannot be detected using traditional measurements of muscle mass, because changes occur not only in volume, but also in the geometry of the muscle.
Participants with signs of frailty also showed changes: in men they were more extensive, while in women they were localized. According to the researcher, analyzing muscle shape allows us to more accurately track structural changes related to physical activity, age or disease.
Experts believe that these results could significantly impact the treatment approaches for patients with diabetes and other chronic diseases. The ability to assess “muscle health” using MRI will allow us to adjust physical therapy programs and better understand the causes of musculoskeletal problems in people with metabolic disorders.
