Overview of sarcopenia

Abstract

Some of the most serious consequences of ageing are its effects on skeletal muscle. 'Sarcopenia' involves a progressive age-related loss of muscle mass and associated muscle weakness that renders frail elders susceptible to serious injury from sudden falls and fractures and losing their functional independence. Not surprisingly, sarcopenia is a significant global public health problem, especially in the developed world. There is an urgent need to better understand the mechanisms underlying age-related muscle wasting and to develop therapeutic strategies that can attenuate, prevent, or ultimately reverse skeletal muscle wasting and weakness. Research and development in academic and research institutions and in large and small pharma is being directed to sarcopenia and related issues to develop and evaluate novel therapies. This book provides the latest information on sarcopenia from leading international researchers studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying age-related changes in skeletal muscle and identifying strategies to combat sarcopenia and related muscle wasting conditions and neuromuscular disorders. The range of interventions for sarcopenia is extensive and not all can be covered in this first volume. While not covering every possible theme, the selected topics provide important insights into the some of the mechanisms underlying sarcopenia and serve as the basis for subsequent complementary volumes that will eventually provide a definitive resource for understanding age-related muscle wasting and weakness and therapeutic approaches to combat sarcopenia.