title: Biomarkers in sarcopenia: A multifactorial approach.
abstract: The slow and continuous loss of muscle mass that progresses with aging is defined as "sarcopenia". Sarcopenia represents an important public health problem, being closely linked to a condition of frailty and, therefore, of disability. According to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People, the diagnosis of sarcopenia requires the presence of low muscle mass, along with either low grip strength or low physical performance. However, age-related changes in skeletal muscle can be largely attributed to the complex interactions among factors including alterations of the neuromuscular junction, endocrine system, growth factors, and muscle proteins turnover, behavior-related and disease-related factors. Accordingly, the identification of a single biomarker of sarcopenia is unreliable, due to its "multifactorial" pathogenesis with the involvement of a multitude of pathways. Thus, in order to characterize pathophysiological mechanisms and to make a correct assessment of elderly patient with sarcopenia, a panel of biomarkers of all pathways involved should be assessed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Curcio
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liguori
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parrella
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pirozzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Della-Morte
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi di Aragona, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gargiulo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo Gabriele
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Tocchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonaduce
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. Electronic address: p.abete@unina.it.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abete
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Biomarkers; Diagnosis; Elderly; Sarcopenia