Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia, or “Flesh Loss,” is a clinical term to describe a process that many people are familiar with - a syndrome of progressive muscle loss that contributes to loss of function and quality of life.
Although not strictly a disease of aging, sarcopenia is much more common as we age. Epidemiologic studies show that prior to age 65, only around 14% of people suffer from sarcopenia. This increases to over 50% by age 80, and can be a huge contributor to an older adult’s loss of independence, function, mobility, and overall quality of life. Sarcopenia is very difficult to diagnose as working definitions are still undergoing and only in 2016 did it make in to physician diagnosis codes!
Sarcopenia can be identified by low muscle strength. This is hard to quantify, but usually a caregiver or a patient points out “I used to be able to do [activity] but now I can’t do it,” or a version of that statement. After that, the diagnosis has to be confirmed by testing, which can be difficult to do as there are not many validated tests, let alone tests that are easy and accessible. But once the diagnosis is confirmed, it can be classified as severe if a person has low physical performance, which requires a new set of tests!
Despite the diagnostic hurdles, geriatricians and allied health professionals have been working with older adults suffering from this malady for decades. Often, sarcopenia does not exist by itself, and is enshrouded by the complexity of the aging process and thus requires a team for treatment. Exercise, specifically resistance based exercise, is the mainstay of treatment. Patients in clinic will sometimes (jokingly) ask for a medication to make them feel like they are in their twenties again and I (jokingly) respond that if I had such a medication I would be a millionaire and would quit working. Jokes aside, exercise - routine, regular exercise - is one of the foundations for healthy and happy aging.
As above, studies show that by the time we are 65 around 10-15% of us will suffer from sarcopenia. By the time we reach 80, our chance is a coin-flip. It is never too late to start your path to healthy aging!
Key Points:
Sarcopenia is defined by loss of muscle strength and function
Sarcopenia is difficult to diagnose
Resistance based exercise is the mainstay of treatment
