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. 2014 Dec;5(4):253-9.
doi: 10.1007/s13539-014-0161-y. Epub 2014 Oct 22.

Prevalence, incidence, and clinical impact of sarcopenia: facts, numbers, and epidemiology-update 2014

John E Morley  1 , Stefan D Anker, Stephan von Haehling
Affiliations

Prevalence, incidence, and clinical impact of sarcopenia: facts, numbers, and epidemiology-update 2014

John E Morley et al. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2014 Dec.

Erratum in

  • Corrigendum.
    Sun XH, Yu HZ, Yang MM, Yang YM, Dang ZM. Sun XH, et al. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2015 Jun;6(2):192. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12038. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2015. PMID: 26140254 Free PMC article.

Abstract

Sarcopenia is now defined as a decline in walking speed or grip strength associated with low muscle mass. Sarcopenia leads to loss of mobility and function, falls, and mortality. Sarcopenia is a major cause of frailty, but either condition can occur without the other being present. Sarcopenia is present in about 5 to 10 % of persons over 65 years of age. It has multiple causes including disease, decreased caloric intake, poor blood flow to muscle, mitochondrial dysfunction, a decline in anabolic hormones, and an increase in proinflammatory cytokines. Basic therapy includes resistance exercise and protein and vitamin D supplementation. There is now a simple screening test available for sarcopenia-SARC-F. All persons 60 years and older should be screened for sarcopenia and treated when appropriate.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Publications on sarcopenia as shown in PubMed (1993 to August 2014)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The causes of sarcopenia
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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