A Critical Review of Current Worldwide Definitions of Sarcopenia

Evaluating the SarQoL® Questionnaire as a Screening Tool for Sarcopenia among Korean Older Adults

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Sarcopenia, characterized by the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, poses significant risks to physical health, leading to a reduced quality of life (QoL), increased disability, and higher mortality rates among older adults. Early detection and intervention are crucial to prevent the cascading effects of sarcopenia, including falls, fractures, and hospitalization. This study determined an optimal cut-off point of the SarQoL® score that can serve as an effective screening tool among community-dwelling Korean older adults.

METHODS

The study involved 451 South Korean older adults, assessing the correlation between SarQoL® scores and sarcopenia as defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. Participants completed the Korean version of the SarQoL questionnaire.

RESULTS

Findings revealed that individuals diagnosed with sarcopenia had significantly lower SarQoL® scores compared to non-sarcopenic participants, with a cut-off score of ≤58.5 providing good diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.768, sensitivity = 69.3%, specificity = 75.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

These results underscore the questionnaire's reliability and validity in screening for sarcopenia-related QoL impairment and its potential utility as a clinical tool. Implementing the SarQoL® in routine assessments could improve clinical outcomes by enabling earlier and more precise identification of sarcopenia.

Vascular Impairment, Muscle Atrophy, and Cognitive Decline: Critical Age-Related Conditions

The triad of vascular impairment, muscle atrophy, and cognitive decline represents critical age-related conditions that significantly impact health. Vascular impairment disrupts blood flow, precipitating the muscle mass reduction seen in sarcopenia and the decline in neuronal function characteristic of neurodegeneration. Our limited understanding of the intricate relationships within this triad hinders accurate diagnosis and effective treatment strategies. This review analyzes the interrelated mechanisms that contribute to these conditions, with a specific focus on oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and impaired nutrient delivery. The aim is to understand the common pathways involved and to suggest comprehensive therapeutic approaches. Vascular dysfunctions hinder the circulation of blood and the transportation of nutrients, resulting in sarcopenia characterized by muscle atrophy and weakness. Vascular dysfunction and sarcopenia have a negative impact on physical function and quality of life. Neurodegenerative diseases exhibit comparable pathophysiological mechanisms that affect cognitive and motor functions. Preventive and therapeutic approaches encompass lifestyle adjustments, addressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and integrated therapies that focus on improving vascular and muscular well-being. Better understanding of these links can refine therapeutic strategies and yield better patient outcomes. This study emphasizes the complex interplay between vascular dysfunction, muscle degeneration, and cognitive decline, highlighting the necessity for multidisciplinary treatment approaches. Advances in this domain promise improved diagnostic accuracy, more effective therapeutic options, and enhanced preventive measures, all contributing to a higher quality of life for the elderly population.

Associations of oxidative stress markers with the prevalence of sarcopenia in the United States general population

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the present study was to examine the association of oxidative stress markers with sarcopenia in the general United States population under the age of 60.

METHODS

We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2011‒2014 and performed Restricted Cubic Spline (RCS) plots, weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis to calculate ratio ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals, and subgroup analysis based on age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and body mass index stratification to determine the association of markers of oxidative stress with the prevalence of sarcopenia.

RESULTS

The present analysis included a total of 8,782 participants. Firstly, the RCS plots showed a roughly L-shaped curve association of total bilirubin and serum iron with a prevalence of sarcopenia. Secondly, albumin was negatively and linearly associated with the risk of sarcopenia. Finally, with the increase in gamma-glutamyl transferase, the prevalence of sarcopenia showed a trend of first rising and then declining as a result of the iron increase.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated a nonlinear association between markers of oxidative stress and sarcopenia. The need to focus more on levels of oxidative stress in the body could provide better prevention strategies for sarcopenia.

Proteomic reference map for sarcopenia research: mass spectrometric identification of key muscle proteins of organelles, cellular signaling, bioenergetic metabolism and molecular chaperoning

During the natural aging process, frailty is often associated with abnormal muscular performance. Although inter-individual differences exit, in most elderly the tissue mass and physiological functionality of voluntary muscles drastically decreases. In order to study age-related contractile decline, animal model research is of central importance in the field of biogerontology. Here we have analyzed wild type mouse muscle to establish a proteomic map of crude tissue extracts. Proteomics is an advanced and large-scale biochemical method that attempts to identify all accessible proteins in a given biological sample. It is a technology-driven approach that uses mass spectrometry for the characterization of individual protein species. Total protein extracts were used in this study in order to minimize the potential introduction of artefacts due to excess subcellular fractionation procedures. In this report, the proteomic survey of aged muscles has focused on organellar marker proteins, as well as proteins that are involved in cellular signaling, the regulation of ion homeostasis, bioenergetic metabolism and molecular chaperoning. Hence, this study has establish a proteomic reference map of a highly suitable model system for future aging research.

Standard Nutritional Assessment Tools Are Unable to Predict Loss of Muscle Mass in Patients Due to Undergo Pancreatico-Duodenectomy: Highlighting the Need for Detailed Nutritional Assessment

BACKGROUND AND METHODS

Pancreatico-duodenectomy (PD) carries significant morbidity and mortality, with very few modifiable risk factors. Radiological evidence of sarcopenia is associated with poor outcomes. This retrospective study aimed to analyse the relationship between easy-to-use bedside nutritional assessment techniques and radiological markers of muscle loss to identify those patients most likely to benefit from prehabilitation.

RESULTS

Data were available in 184 consecutive patients undergoing PD. Malnutrition was present in 33-71%, and 48% had a high visceral fat-to-skeletal muscle ratio, suggestive of sarcopenic obesity (SO). Surgical risk was higher in patients with obesity (OR 1.07, 95%CI 1.01-1.14, p = 0.031), and length of stay was 5 days longer in those with SO (p = 0.006). There was no correlation between skeletal muscle and malnutrition using percentage weight loss or the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST), but a weak correlation between the highest hand grip strength (HGS; 0.468, p < 0.001) and the Global Leadership in Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria (-0.379, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Nutritional assessment tools give widely variable results. Further research is needed to identify patients at significant nutritional risk prior to PD. In the meantime, those with malnutrition (according to the GLIM criteria), obesity or low HGS should be referred to prehabilitation.