The Joint REACT ENLIGHT Workshop, “From Muscle to Mind: Rethinking Ageing,” took place at the University of Galway, Ireland, from 11–13 June 2026 and was jointly hosted by the University of Galway and the University of Ghent.
The workshop explored the biology and clinical impact of sarcopenia, an age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, alongside the roles of reduced physical activity, hormonal changes, chronic low-grade inflammation, anabolic resistance, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Sessions also examined muscle and musculoskeletal tissue ageing, biomarkers, frailty, and the bidirectional communication between muscle and the brain.
The programme included an intergenerational quiz evening, expert presentations on muscle ageing, exercise, sarcopenia diagnostics and therapies, muscle microRNAs, frailty, sleep, and the immune system, as well as Early Career Researcher talks on topics spanning blood-flow restriction training, Alzheimer’s disease, microbial peptides, skeletal muscle measurement, mitochondrial communication, and muscle wasting.
