title: Sarcopenia as the Biological Substrate of Physical Frailty.
abstract: Physical function decreases with aging, which may result in adverse outcomes (eg, disability, loss of independence, institutionalization, death). Physical function impairment is a common trait of frailty and sarcopenia. These two conditions, albeit highly common, have not yet received a unique operational definition, which has impeded their implementation in standard practice. Here, we introduce a conceptual model in which sarcopenia is proposed as the biological substrate and the pathway whereby the consequences of physical frailty develop. This conceptualization may open new venues for the design of interventions against physical frailty and promote the translation of findings to the clinical arena.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, Rome 00168, Italy. Electronic address: francesco.landi@rm.unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Landi
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, Rome 00168, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calvani
authors.affiliation: Gérontopôle, University Hospital of Toulouse, 37 Allées Jules Guesde, Toulouse 31000, France.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cesari
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, Rome 00168, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tosato
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, Rome 00168, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Martone
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, Rome 00168, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernabei
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, Rome 00168, Italy.
authors.forename: Graziano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Onder
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, Rome 00168, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marzetti
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Aging; Disability; Operationalization; Physical performance; Skeletal muscle