Sarcopenia trajectories across decades: is there an accelerated decline with age?

Project Summary

A decline in lean mass, muscle strength and functional capacity is part of normal aging. These phenomena have been at the forefront of the aging research field for 3 decades, as sarcopenia has been associated with worsened metabolic health, falls, reduced quality of life, and mortality. However, the trajectories of these declines are still not fully understood. Although some evidence supports the idea of an accelerated decline with age, the literature presents mostly linear rates of declines throughout life, likely due to limitations in study designs. The objective of this study is therefore to accurately determine the trajectory of lean mass, muscle strength and functional capacity by decades of life, verify whether there is an acceleration with age and if such, identify which factors may contribute to it. Such results could help clinicians better predict future diagnostics of sarcopenia and therefore tailor specific recommendations and lifestyle adjustments for aging adults.