Sarcopenia – what is it?

Sarcopenia - What is it ?

Skin Healing Concepts

The Americans and Europeans talk a lot about sarcopneia, but doctors in the UK don’t.
If you google NHS (at time of this article) you get the message

” No results found for Sarcopneia “

Sarcopenia is a condition characterized by the progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and function.

It primarily affects older individuals but can also occur in younger adults. Sarcopenia is associated with adverse outcomes such as disability, metabolic dysfunction, poor quality of life, and even increased mortality. The condition can be caused by factors such as aging, sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition, immobilization, diabetes, obesity, and various inflammatory diseases. Diagnosis of sarcopenia involves assessing parameters such as muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle performance, and walking speed. Different consensus papers have provided definitions and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia, which generally revolve around low muscle mass combined with low muscle strength or low muscle performance. While the exact causes of sarcopenia are not always clear, it can be categorized as primary or secondary. Primary sarcopenia occurs when the aging process itself is the main cause, whereas secondary sarcopenia is associated with other factors such as inactivity, inadequate nutrition, gastrointestinal disorders, certain medications, and diseases that affect muscle mass and overall health.

Am I too old to grow muscle?

Read an article about what science says about sarcopenia and building strength later in life.

Sarcopenia-related risk factors and Sarcopenia-related outcomes

Sarcopenia-related risk factors and sarcopenia-related outcomes. ↑, increase; ↓, decrease; GH, growth hormone; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1; IL-1β, interleukin 1 beta; IL-6, interleukin 6; IL, insulin resistance; ROS, reactive oxygen species; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/1/136
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Key points of interest/information:

Life expectancy has increased in developed countries, leading to aging and physical/cognitive decline.
Physical exercise, including resistance and endurance exercise, can protect against functional decline and negative body composition changes during aging.
Nutrition and eating strategies are also important in preventing and treating functional limitations in the elderly.
Sarcopenia is characterized by progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, leading to adverse outcomes such as disability, metabolic dysfunction, poor quality of life, and death.
Sarcopenia is mainly associated with aging but can also occur in other populations due to lifestyle decisions or pathological states.
Several consensus papers have provided definitions and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia.
Diagnosis of sarcopenia involves assessing parameters such as low muscle mass, low muscle strength, low muscle performance, and walking speed.
Primary sarcopenia is associated with aging, while secondary sarcopenia can be caused by factors such as activity-related causes, nutrition-related causes, and disease-related causes.
Sarcopenia can develop in young adults as well.
Sarcopenia is linked to various pathologies, including inflammation, endocrine diseases, organ failure, and malignancy.
– The review aims to summarize the key molecular mechanisms of sarcopenia, the role of microRNAs in diagnosis and prognosis, and strategies, particularly nutrition-related, to counteract the progression of sarcopenia.