Loss of muscle strength is a principal factor in the development of physical frailty, a condition clinically associated with increased risk of bone fractures, impairments in the activities of daily living, and loss of independence in older humans. A primary determinant in the decline in muscle strength that occurs during aging is a loss of muscle mass, which could occur either through a reduction in the rate of protein synthesis, an elevation in protein degradation, or a combination of both. In the present study, rates of protein synthesis and the relative expression and function of various biomarkers involved in the initiation of mRNA translation in skeletal muscle were examined at different times throughout the lifespan of the rat. It was found that between 1 and 6 months of age body weight increased four-fold. However, by 6 months gastrocnemius protein synthesis and RNA content per gram muscle were lower than values observed in 1 month old rats. Moreover, the relative expression of two proteins involved in the binding of initiator methionyl-tRNAi to the 40S ribosomal subunit, eukaryotic initiation factors (eIF)2 and eIF2B, as well as the 70 kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase, S6K1, was lower at 6 months compared to 1 month of age. Muscle mass, protein synthesis, and the aforementioned biomarkers remained unchanged until approximately 21 months. Between 21 and 24 months of age, muscle mass decreased precipitously. Surprisingly, during this period protein synthesis, relative RNA content, eIF2B activity, relative eIF2 expression, and S6K1 phosphorylation all increased. The results are consistent with a model wherein protein synthesis is enhanced during aging in a futile attempt to maintain muscle mass.