Sarcopenia: Diagnosis, comorbidities, and management

Abstract

Sarcopenia, defined as loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is attracting more and more public attention in the ageing world. It is associated with many co-morbidities, including frailty, cognitive impairment, depression, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory diseases, and incurs mortality at the end. Diagnostic consensuses are available, and the elderly at risk are encouraged to take suitable screening tests, such as muscle mass measurement, grip strength, and gait speed. Progressive resistance training is the mainstream to treat sarcopenia, yet, the multi-component exercise program is suggested for the frail elderly.