Zombie Research Society
A recent article published by The Washington Post was somehow surprised to find that there is a scientific link between old age and risk of infection. Apparently, if you’re a trendy health and fitness journalist based in Boston, simple ideas like “sitting all day is so bad for you” and “sunlight is so good for you” probably sound really profound. But this time, the author was referring to a genuine research article regarding age-related muscle loss. And she may have accidentally stumbled onto something that is actually of interest to many zombie researchers!
Despite focusing on a recent article released by MedScience, much of the same research was originally published in a paper titled “Sarcopenia in older adults” via Ovid in 2012. But what is sarcopenia, and what could it possibly have to do with the inevitable zombie apocalypse?
Sarcopenia, characterized by the progressive loss of muscle strength and mass, is a condition linked to increased frailty and mortality. However, its role in heightening the susceptibility to infections and infectious diseases remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the long-term associations between sarcopenia and the risk of overall infections and infectious diseases … These findings indicate that sarcopenia and low muscle strength are important markers of increased infection risk in the general population and highlight the need for further research, particularly in younger adults with low muscle strength, to determine whether interventions to improve muscle strength and mass can reduce infection risk.
Not surprisingly, the elderly are susceptible to infection. But it’s not just the elderly; it’s also “younger adults with low muscle strength”. The inevitable zombie virus will almost certainly attack and take hold in the old and weak first. However, this might seem contradictory to our very first foundational principle that a “zombie is defined as a relentlessly aggressive human, or reanimated human corpse, driven by a biological infection”. How could the old and feeble – perhaps those most susceptible to such a virus or disease – become relentlessly aggressive?
Perhaps it may appear antithetical that a zombie virus known for expressing itself in such a murderous, violent, and vicious manner would spread first among the fragile, the frail, and weak. In fact, during the early days of the inventible zombie pandemic we might be surprised to find that the most unrelenting and driven among the undead are sickly old grandmothers and anemic teenagers rather than healthy and athletic adults. After all, you’d hardly expect the former to claw, scratch, and bite their way across the country in pursuit of human flesh!
But this irony has been played out in media often, and unfortunately it’s true in real life as well. While the zombie virus may infect the most vulnerable, it is often believed to express itself akin to “hysterical strength” including an adrenaline surge, full motor unit recruitment, pain blocking, and a complete lack of fear. Basically, a biologically relentless killing machine. And, of course, The Zombie Research Society has covered this topic previously right here on our website. Just click on this link to learn more about the hysterical strength of the undead!
We will credit the author for publishing their interview with Nathan K. LeBrasseur (director of the Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota) who affirmed the importance of exercise by expressing that “you’re still challenging your molecular machinery and your cells to tolerate this stress, and then not just tolerate it but then respond and adapt to it…” which makes the body better able to fight off an infection.
She actually elaborates even further by claiming that “This study builds on a growing body of evidence connecting muscle health and immune health”. And we really must agree; aspiring survivors of the inevitable zombie apocalypse should prepare themselves physically. Muscle health is intrinsically, inherently, and naturally linked to your immunity. You may already have the perfect plan, the best bug-out-bag, and an arsenal worthy of an army. But, if you’re still somehow unhealthy, sickly, lazy or weak – you’ve already lost the very first line of defense!
So, take a look at the research above, put down the phone, step away from the computer, and begin building your “molecular machinery”… because what you don’t know can eat you!