-

The project investigates the biological mechanisms underlying sarcopenia and frailty in the elderly, conditions associated with increased health risks. The research focuses on the progressive decline of muscle mass and function, while also considering the role of fat infiltration in muscle tissue. Particular attention is paid to the epigenetic mechanisms involved in muscle aging and in the development of sarcopenia. The study examines the role of Polycomb group (PcG) proteins and their interaction with the nuclear lamina, key regulators of cellular homeostasis. By exploiting the epigenetic memory retained by human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), the project will investigate frailty-associated epigenetic alterations in iPSC-derived muscle lineage. In the long term, the study aims to identify novel early targets for the development of therapeutic strategies capable of delaying the onset of frailty-associated symptoms.