Among them,insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been implicated inthe control of skeletal muscle growth, differentiation,survival, and regeneration and has been considered a promisingtherapeutic agent in staving off the advance of muscle weakness.Here we review the molecular basis of muscle wasting associatedwith diseases, such as sarcopenia, muscular dystrophy andAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and discuss the potentialtherapeutic role of local IGF-1 isoforms in muscle agingand diseases. The gene discussed is IGF1; the disease is sarcopenia.