Open AccessFrom sarcopenia to frailty: a road less traveled
Author(s) -
Morley John E.,
von Haehling Stephan,
Anker Stefan D.,
Vellas Bruno
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.803
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 2190-6009
pISSN - 2190-5991
DOI - 10.1007/s13539-014-0132-3
Subject(s) - sarcopenia , weight loss , gerontology , medicine , older people , resistance training , muscle power , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , obesity
The physical frailty phenotype consists of fatigue, weight loss, and loss of muscle power. Sarcopenia has been shown to be a major cause of frailty. Six societies including SCWD published a consensus suggesting that all persons older than 70 years of age should be screened for frailty when seeing health professionals. Simple screening tests such as the FRAIL (fatigue, resistance, aerobic, illness, and loss of weight) scale can be used. It is felt that frailty can be treated by exercise (resistance and aerobic), high quality protein, vitamin D, and treatment of the common causes of fatigue. It is expected that this approach will decrease disability in older persons.