Imagine feeling strong and capable as you age, maintaining your independence and enjoying life to the fullest. Sarcopenia, a geriatric disease characterized by a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and loss of muscle function, can quietly undermine this vision, but it doesn’t have to. By spotting the early signs of sarcopenia, you can take proactive steps to slow its progression.

Approximately 4 out of 10 elderly adults suffer from sarcopenia in India.

Who is Affected?

Sarcopenia primarily targets the elderly, especially those who lead sedentary lifestyles or have other health conditions affecting their muscles and physical activity. Sarcopenia doesn’t discriminate—it impacts both men and women equally. This condition can drastically reduce their quality of life, making them more prone to frailty, falls, and fractures.

Factors Contributing to Sarcopenia

Several factors accelerate the onset of sarcopenia:

• Aging: Starting around age 50, muscle fibers begin to diminish, with up to 50% lost by age 80.
• Physical Inactivity: Without regular exercise, muscles weaken and shrink.
• Hormonal Changes: Declines in growth hormone, testosterone, thyroid hormone, and insulin-like growth factor, coupled with inflammatory signals like TNF-α and IL-6, lead to muscle loss.
• Nutritional Deficiencies: Poor diet and inadequate protein intake hinder muscle maintenance, while the accumulation of certain proteins in muscles further reduces strength.

Symptoms

Recognizing sarcopenia involves looking out for these common symptoms:

• Muscle weakness
• Reduced stamina during activities
• Slower walking speed
• Difficulty with daily tasks
• Trouble climbing stairs
• Loss of balance and frequent falls
• Noticeable muscle shrinkage

Diagnosis

Diagnosing sarcopenia involves several guidelines and tests:

• SARC-F Questionnaire: Evaluates strength, walking assistance, chair rising, stair climbing, and falls.
• Handgrip Test: Measures muscle strength, correlating with overall muscle health.
• Chair Stand Test: Counts how many times a person can stand and sit from a chair in 30 seconds without using their arms.
• Imaging Tests: MRI, CT, DEXA, and BIA scans provide detailed insights into muscle mass and composition.

Sarcopenia Management and Treatment: Prevention is the key

Preventing sarcopenia is all about staying active and eating well. Regular resistance training and adequate protein intake are crucial to maintaining muscle health and preventing decline.

Managing sarcopenia effectively requires a holistic approach:

• Resistance Training: Using weights or resistance bands to boost muscle strength and endurance.
• Nutrition: Ensuring a diet rich in protein and balanced nutrients to support muscle health.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): In some cases, HRT has been shown to have a positive impact on muscle mass and function in postmenopausal women. Estrogen, the primary hormone replaced in HRT, plays a crucial role in maintaining muscle mass and strength.

Conclusion

Sarcopenia poses a significant challenge for the elderly, but with the right strategies, its impact can be minimized. By understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatments, we can help older adults maintain their muscle health and overall well-being, ensuring they live their golden years to the fullest.

Disclaimer: The images shown are for illustration purposes only. Any resemblance is unintentional

Abbreviations: TNF: Tumour necrosis factor, IL: Interleukin, SARC-F: Strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls, MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, CT: Computed Tomography, DEXA: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, BIA: Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, HRT: Hormone Replacement Therapy.

References

• Sanjay Kalra et al. International Journal of General Medicine 2025:18 1731–1745
• Ardeljan, A.D. and Hurezeanu, R. (2023) Sarcopenia, PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560813/
• ‌Papadopoulou, S.K. (2020) ‘Sarcopenia: A Contemporary Health Problem among Older Adult Populations’, Nutrients, 12(5), p. 1293. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051293.
• Cleveland Clinic (2022) Sarcopenia (Muscle Loss): Symptoms & Causes, Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23167-sarcopenia.
• Zhang, C. et al.(2024) ‘Research progress on the correlation between estrogen and estrogen receptor on postmenopausal sarcopenia’, Frontiers in Endocrinology, 15. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1494972.