Biomarkers for physical frailty and sarcopenia.
Physical frailty (PF) and sarcopenia are major health issues in geriatric populations, given their high prevalence and association with several adverse outcomes. Nevertheless, the lack of an univocal operational definition for the two conditions has so far hampered their clinical implementation. Existing definitional ambiguities of PF and sarcopenia, together with their complex underlying pathophysiology, also account for the absence of robust biomarkers that can be used for screening, diagnostic and/or prognostication purposes. This review provides an overview of currently available biological markers for PF and sarcopenia, as well as a critical appraisal of strengths and weaknesses of traditional procedures for biomarker development in the field. A novel approach for biomarker identification and validation, based on multivariate methodologies, is also discussed. This strategy relies on the multidimensional modeling of complementary biomarkers to cope with the phenotypical and pathophysiological complexity of PF and sarcopenia. Biomarkers identified through the implementation of multivariate strategies may be used to support the detection of the two conditions, track their progression over time or in response to interventions, and reveal the onset of complications (e.g., mobility disability) at a very early stage.
Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "Agostino Gemelli", L.go F. Vito 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
Riccardo
R
Calvani
Department of Chemistry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
Federico
F
Marini
Gérontopôle, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.|Université de Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.
Matteo
M
Cesari
Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "Agostino Gemelli", L.go F. Vito 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
Matteo
M
Tosato
Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "Agostino Gemelli", L.go F. Vito 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
Anna
A
Picca
Innovative Clinical Trials, Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Göttingen, Germany.
Stefan D
SD
Anker
Innovative Clinical Trials, Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Göttingen, Germany.
Stephan
S
von Haehling
Muscle Metabolism Discovery Performance Unit, Metabolic Pathways and Cardiovascular Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
Ram R
RR
Miller
Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "Agostino Gemelli", L.go F. Vito 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
Roberto
R
Bernabei
Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "Agostino Gemelli", L.go F. Vito 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
Francesco
F
Landi
Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "Agostino Gemelli", L.go F. Vito 8, 00168, Rome, Italy. emarzetti@live.com.
Emanuele
E
Marzetti
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology
D015415:Biomarkers
Aging; Disability; Markers; Multivariate analysis; Physical performance; Skeletal muscle