title: Stroke-related sarcopenia: specific characteristics.
abstract: Sarcopenia is characterized by muscle wasting and is primarily a disease of the elderly. A stroke-specific sarcopenia has been described recently. Stroke-related sarcopenia has a number of features that distinguish it from the age-related sarcopenia. The disability from stroke depends on the brain lesion leading to impairment of the efferent neuronal pathways. However, the alterations of structural and functional muscle capacity are secondary and depend rather on complex pathophysiological reactions including imbalanced efferent neurovegetative control, systemic and local metabolic imbalance, feeding difficulties, and inflammation. Muscle structural changes start to develop within hours after stroke, followed by rapid reduction of muscle mass. The pathophysiological mechanisms leading to the muscle mass decline are still not understood in details. This review provides insights into the specific features of the stroke-related sarcopenia. Recent research achievements in this area and clinical implications will be discussed.
authors: Center for Stroke Research CSB, Charite University Medical School, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Nadja
authors: N
authors: Scherbakov
authors: Department of Cardiology, Charite University Medical School, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Sandek
authors: Center for Stroke Research CSB, Charite University Medical School, Berlin, Germany; Department of Cardiology, Charite University Medical School, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: wolfram.doehner@charite.de.
authors: Wolfram
authors: W
authors: Doehner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Stroke; disability; muscle mass assessment; muscle strength; muscle wasting; physical performance