The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a chemical synapse formed between a presynaptic motor neuron and a postsynaptic muscle cell. NMJs in most vertebrate species share many essential features; however, some differences distinguish human NMJs from others. This review will describe the pre- and postsynaptic structures of human NMJs and compare them to NMJs of laboratory animals. We will focus on age-dependent declines in function and changes in the structure of human NMJs. Furthermore, we will describe insights into the aging process revealed from mouse models of accelerated aging. In addition, we will compare aging phenotypes to other human pathologies that cause impairments of pre- and postsynaptic structures at NMJs. Finally, we will discuss potential intervention approaches for attenuating age-related NMJ dysfunction and sarcopenia in humans.

神经肌肉接头（NMJ）是突触前运动神经元和突触后肌细胞之间形成的化学突触。大多数脊椎动物物种的NMJ具有许多基本特征。但是，有些差异将人类NMJ与其他人区分开。这篇综述将描述人类NMJ的突触前和突触后结构，并将其与实验动物的NMJ进行比较。我们将关注人类NMJs的年龄依赖性功能下降和结构变化。此外，我们将描述从加速衰老的小鼠模型揭示的对衰老过程的见解。此外，我们将比较衰老的表型与其他导致NMJ突触前和突触后结构受损的人类病理。最后，我们将讨论减轻人类年龄相关的NMJ功能障碍和肌肉减少症的潜在干预方法。