Sarcopenia Aging Population

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More than 46 million adults in the United States are over the age of 65, representing over 14% of the U.S. population. This population is expected to rise to 22% over the next 20 years.1 The aging process is accompanied by various biochemical changes that may impact body composition and ultimately affect health status, physical ability and quality of life. Sarcopenia, characterized as the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength and physical capacity, has gained considerable attention as a public health concern among the aging population. After age 50, roughly 1-2% of muscle mass is estimated to be lost each year. After age 60, up to 3% of functional capacity may be lost each year. Over time, these changes can have profound effects …show more content…
With the loss of muscle mass and functional capacity, older adults are at greater risk for developing chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, frailty and osteoporosis. In turn, this can lead to greater dependence on assisted living, increased hospitalizations and increased medical needs. Furthermore, loss of independence can be emotionally challenging, putting older adults at greater risk for mental health conditions such as depression.6 Sarcopenia is responsible for an estimated $18.5 billion in healthcare costs each year, and this number is only expected to rise as the aging population continues to grow. Therefore, identifying and implementing intervention strategies for sarcopenia management and prevention is crucial to dampening the relative social, health and economic burden.
The etiology of sarcopenia is complex and multifactorial. Age-related changes in hormone expression in addition to inflammation, oxidative stress, disease, decreased cell signaling and reduced neuromuscular junctions are all possible contributing factors. The major environmental contributors to sarcopenia are nutrition, specifically inadequate protein and energy consumption, as well as physical inactivity. Being modifiable risk factors, nutrition and physical activity are attractive targets for …show more content…
evaluated the effect of 30 g milk protein concentrate, provided in two 15 g servings daily, in 65 elderly adults with a mean age of 78 years old and classified as pre-frail or frail based on the Fried frailty criteria.21, The participants were generally sedentary but, aside from characteristics of frailty, had no major chronic conditions and were not taking any medications that may interfere with the study. Outcome measures included changes in lean body mass, measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and muscle fiber size as assessed via biopsy. Changes in strength were evaluated per one-repetition maximum on leg press and leg extension as well as a hydraulic hand dynamometer to measure handgrip strength. Physical function was evaluated via short physical performance battery (SPPB), which includes balance testing, ability to stand up from a chair and walking speed. At the end of 24 weeks, the protein group demonstrated significant improvement in SPPB, compared to placebo (P=0.02), but changes in all other parameters were nonsignificant at the end of the trial. The authors conclude that protein supplementation alone does not significantly impact lean muscle mass, but may help improve physical capacity in elderly adults with characteristics of
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