Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia is a progressive generalized skeletal muscle disorder characterized by the gradual loss of muscle mass, strength, and function. The term comes from Greek—“sarx” meaning flesh and “penia” meaning loss. While natural muscle loss begins around age 30 (approximately 3–5% per decade), sarcopenia becomes clinically significant after age 65, when weakness and physical performance decline noticeably.

Key symptoms include reduced grip strength, difficulty rising from a chair, slow walking speed, fatigue, balance problems, and unexplained weight loss. These changes increase the risk of falls, fractures, physical disability, loss of independence, and even mortality.

Major risk factors include advancing age, sedentary lifestyle, low protein intake, vitamin D and B12 deficiencies, hormonal changes (especially post-menopause), chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, smoking, and high or low BMI.

Diagnosis involves assessing muscle strength (handgrip test), physical performance (gait speed, sit-stand test), and muscle quantity using imaging (DXA, CT, MRI) or bioimpedance analysis.

There are no FDA-approved medications specifically for sarcopenia. The most effective management combines resistance training exercise with dietary interventions—increasing protein intake (1.0–1.2 g/kg body weight daily) and ensuring adequate calories, vitamins, and minerals. Early recognition and consistent strength training can slow progression and maintain mobility and independence in older adults.