Managing Musculoskeletal and Kidney Aging: A Call for Holistic Insights

Abstract

Aging represents a major concern, with a two-fold increase in individuals >65 years old by 2040. Older patients experience multiple declines in condition, with overlapping concerns. Fractures, frailty and falls remain underestimated events in routine practice. They are shared by numerous conditions and diseases, such as osteoporosis, sarcopenia and undernutrition, which mostly feature low evolution and are silent. In this review, we focused on musculoskeletal decline in older individuals who also have chronic kidney disease (CKD), which promotes fractures and falls. We aimed to highlight the need for a global approach for musculoskeletal and kidney aging. Although strategies limiting falls remain controversial, the need for an early diagnosis can limit these declines and allow for specific treatment of bone fragility in addition to non-pharmacological approaches. The emergence of senolytic agents offers new hope for preventing musculoskeletal disorders. This scoping review describes these overlapping silent diseases, provides evidence for their global understanding and management, and sheds light on new therapeutic directions.