Unraveling the Multifactorial Etiology and the Potential Strategies to Overcome Sarcopenia

Abstract

Sarcopenia, characterized by the decline of skeletal muscle mass and function, can have severe consequences for older adults, including disability and frailty. The condition is also linked to various diseases, increased insulin resistance, fatigue, falls, and mortality. Factors such as obesity and myosteatosis (fat infiltration into muscle) play a significant role in driving sarcopenia, particularly in morbidly obese individuals who also have low muscle mass, known as sarcopenic obesity. The Framingham study found additional limitations in function and mobility in individuals with sarcopenic obesity. This literature review aims to provide the potential causes of sarcopenia, with a specific focus on middle-aged adults, the biological processes that lead to muscle loss, methods to mitigate its effects, and how physical activity and nutrition can aid in recovery.