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A Critical Review of Current Worldwide Definitions of Sarcopenia

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Abstract

With the increasing number of elderly individuals worldwide, the prevalence of age-related loss of muscle mass, referred to as sarcopenia, is expected to increase. Sarcopenia is a relatively new recognized syndrome, which is thought to affect 13% individuals worldwide, and the significant efforts made by different groups have advanced our understanding of the diagnosis, treatment, and natural history of this condition. However, the challenge is now to standardize its measurement and diagnosis to facilitate research in this area and a greater understanding of this condition and its management between clinicians and researchers. The Global Leadership Initiative on Sarcopenia (GLIS) is at the forefront of an international effort to produce standardized definition of sarcopenia. Setting a definition for sarcopenia entails several considerations and trade-offs. In this critical review, we have addressed key challenges driving the process of standardizing the definition, while delving into future avenues in sarcopenia research. Establishing a clear consensus on the working definition of sarcopenia is essential not only for advancing research in this field but also for assessing the prognostic implications of diagnosing sarcopenia and determining the most suitable treatment for affected patients.

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Funding

R.A.F. is partially supported by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), under agreement No. 58-8050-9-004, by NIH Boston Claude D. Pepper Center (OAIC; 1P30AG031679), and by NIH University of Florida Claude D. Pepper Center (P30AG028740). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the USDA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, USA

    Haya F. Alhmly & Roger A. Fielding

  2. Clinical Nutrition Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

    Haya F. Alhmly

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  1. Haya F. Alhmly
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  2. Roger A. Fielding
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Correspondence to Haya F. Alhmly.

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Alhmly, H.F., Fielding, R.A. A Critical Review of Current Worldwide Definitions of Sarcopenia. Calcif Tissue Int 114, 74–81 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-023-01163-3

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