Sarcopenia

Jeff Life, M.D., Ph.D.

Founder, CEO, CMO, The Life Center for Healthy Aging, South Charleston, WV

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is believed to be a normal and inevitable consequence of aging. Evans and Rosenberg, in their book Biomarkers published in 1992, consider it to be the most important variable determining the quality of an individual’s life. They list muscle mass and strength as the top two biomarkers of the aging process. Loss of muscle mass and strength are major factors in the placement of individuals in a nursing home. This talk describes the many causes of sarcopenia along with its progression and consequences as people age. The devastating impact of sarcopenia on our current and future healthcare system is also discussed.